A Chinese national living in Massachusetts allegedly stole another man’s identity to vote in the 2024 presidential election — then reported his victim to immigration authorities for the very crime he himself committed.
Yupeng Sun, 33, of Andover, was arrested Wednesday on federal charges of fraudulent voter registration and fraudulent voting. Prosecutors say he confessed to the entire scheme during an interview with federal investigators.
“I tell you the truth, I register,” Sun told investigators when shown the victim’s voter registration information, according to the criminal complaint.
“I used his name to vote.”
The case began when federal agents received an anonymous tip accusing a Massachusetts permanent resident of illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election. The tip included a screenshot of the victim’s voter registration status.
What investigators uncovered was far more sinister.
Sun had previously rented a room from the victim and his family in Malden. Prosecutors allege Sun didn’t just steal the man’s identity to vote — he also impersonated the victim and his wife on immigration documents requesting they abandon their legal permanent resident status.
When the couple returned from an international trip in June 2024, their green cards were confiscated and they were placed into removal proceedings.
An immigration judge restored their legal permanent resident status in January 2026 after finding their testimony credible and receiving forensic evidence proving they had not signed the fraudulent forms.
Massachusetts voter records show the ballot cast under the victim’s name — submitted at Malden City Hall on Oct. 31, 2024 — was accepted and counted in the 2024 presidential election.
After casting the fraudulent ballot, Sun allegedly sent anonymous tips to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services accusing his victim of illegally voting.
“I went to post office and, uh, to report the father vote.”
Sun is a citizen of China who entered the U.S. in September 2020 on a B-2 tourist visa that expired in March 2021. He currently has deferred action status based on a U-Visa application he submitted in February 2022.
Each voter fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Prosecutors say Sun could also face deportation after completing any sentence imposed.
The case comes as the Trump administration ramps up enforcement against noncitizen voting. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News Digital the DOJ is pursuing every alleged illegal voting lead and taking a “broken window” approach — warning noncitizens who vote could face prosecution and permanent exclusion from the U.S.
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley and Jeff Grimming, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, announced the charges. The Lexington and Andover police departments assisted in the investigation.
The charges remain allegations. The case has not been proven in court.
