LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28 (Our Los Angeles) — Darwin Jonathan Rivera Flores, a 30-year-old Honduran national and lawful permanent resident, was arrested in Los Angeles on a federal criminal complaint accusing him of fraudulent voter registration and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said.
Rivera, who lives in Winnetka, was arrested the morning of Aug. 28, 2026. Prosecutors said he was expected to make an initial appearance that afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. The available information does not establish what happened at that hearing.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Wheat of the Orange County Office is prosecuting it, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
What are prosecutors accusing Rivera of doing?
An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Rivera was born in Honduras, entered the United States in 2002 and is a lawful permanent resident who is not a U.S. citizen.
The affidavit says an online voter-registration record under the name “Darwin Rivera” was linked to Rivera’s Winnetka address. Prosecutors allege that the application included a check mark affirming that the applicant was a U.S. citizen.
The Justice Department said records from the Department of Homeland Security showed no indication that Rivera had applied for or received U.S. citizenship.
Those allegations have not been proven in court. The complaint is a charging document, and Rivera is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Was Rivera accused of voting?
No. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Rivera had not voted in an election.
That distinction matters because the charges described by prosecutors concern the alleged submission of a voter-registration application and the alleged false citizenship claim. Registration does not by itself show that a person cast a ballot.
What are the potential penalties?
The Justice Department said each of the two felony charges carries a statutory maximum of five years in federal prison if Rivera is convicted. That is the maximum penalty set by law, not a sentence imposed in this case.
The available information does not say whether Rivera entered a plea, whether a lawyer was appointed or retained, or whether a judge ordered him detained or released.
What does the case show about the broader enforcement effort?
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said, “Today’s arrest is the first of many to come.” That is a statement about the office’s expected enforcement activity, not a confirmed count of future arrests.
The Justice Department’s announcement identifies the Los Angeles case and the agencies involved. The available records do not independently establish that Rivera’s arrest was the first arrest under a nationwide election-fraud crackdown, or that the case was connected to actions against political critics.
The case is centered on an alleged registration record associated with a San Fernando Valley address. The supplied information does not show a broader effect on Los Angeles County election administration or identify additional defendants in the region.
