Harris County woman charged with illegal voting in Montgomery County

Laura Janeth Garza Laura Janeth Garza Photo: MCSO Photo: MCSO Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Harris County woman charged with illegal voting in Montgomery County 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A Montgomery County grand jury indicted a Harris County woman last week on two charges of illegal voting after law enforcement alleges she obtained documents to steal the identity of a U.S. citizen and illegally register to vote.

Laura Janeth Garza, 38, who is registered as a Mexican National, was arrested Friday on a warrant for her arrest on two counts of election fraud related to the November 2016 presidential election in Harris County.

A joint investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) determined that Garza obtained documents to steal the identity of a U.S. citizen and illegally register to vote in Harris County. She cast ballots in 2004, 2012 and 2016.

“This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to protecting the integrity of elections,” Paxton said in a release sent out regarding the case. “We will continue to do everything in our power to safeguard the electoral process in Texas.”

According to information provided by the Attorney General’s Office, the election fraud investigation launched when a Montgomery County citizen attempted to obtain a U.S. Passport, only to discover that Garza had already done so using the woman’s identity.

The Courier filed an Open Records Request with the Attorney General’s Office on Friday. The entity has 10 days to file that request or release the information sought.

The AG’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division will continue to work together on the investigation and prosecution.

Garza remains in the Montgomery County Jail on a $150,000 bond, $75,000 per illegal voting charge. If convicted, she faces two to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.