Legal Florida permanent resident accused of casting 2024 ballot in Lee County as a non-US citizen

A permanent U.S. resident who immigrated from Mexico was arrested on Aug. 27 after she was accused of illegally voting in the 2024 General Election in Lee County. According to court documents, Astrid Shamatu Navarrete Quintana, 24, was arrested after the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Office of Executive Investigation and Election Crime Unit received information on June 3 accusing her of illegally voting. The investigation began on June 6 after reviewing all information provided by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections Office. In the arrest warrant affidavit, investigators said they confirmed with the elections office that on Aug. 19, 2024, Quintana was accused of completing and signing a voter registration application to vote in that year's general election. The application reportedly included her name, date-of-birth, address, driver's license, race/ethnicity, date and party affiliation. She was last known to be living in Fort Myers. The application had a portion to identify U.S. citizenship status, and Quintana is accused of checking the box "Yes" to the question, "Are you a citizen of the United States of America?", the report stated. Additionally, the application also included an oath reportedly checked near the bottom of the form that stated, "Oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all information provided in this application is true. Notice: It is a 3rd degree felony to submit false information. Maximum penalties are $5,000 and/or 5 years in prison." The elections office provided investigators with Quintana's voting history, including her reported voting record for the general election. According to the records, Quintana was accused of voting in person on Nov. 5, 2024, after she signed into the polling station at 9:54 a.m. On Feb. 25, the elections office sent a "Notice of Non-U.S. Citizenship" letter to Quintana's address. The letter was received on March 2, and the receipt was reportedly initialed "A.Q" in the signature and received by sections. Court documents stated the letter said the elections office had "... received information from the Department of State indicating you are not a United States citizen. Per 97.041, Florida Statutes, only United States citizens are eligible to register to vote." The letter asked Quintana to complete a form to admit or deny if the information was accurate. According to court documents, the form was completed and returned to the elections office by Quintana on March 4, and a box was reportedly checked that said, "I agree with your information and do not require an administrative hearing. I understand that because I am not a United States citizen I am not eligible to vote." The signature also appeared similar to the polling place signature, investigators said. On July 21, a recorded interview was conducted by a FDLE ECU inspector and a Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent with Quintana at her home. The inspector told her that an investigation was being conducted related to her voting history. According to the report, Quintana was asked when and where she last voted, and she reportedly confirmed voting in the 2024 general election in Lee County. She also reportedly acknowledged the notice from the election office. Investigators said Quintana was asked why she reportedly voted, and she said she thought she was eligible to vote because she held a Permanent Resident card, and she had not since receiving the elections office notice. On Aug. 14, investigators received a "Certificate of Nonexistence of Record" from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, National Records Center, based on Quintana's citizenship status. Court records revealed that Quintana was not a naturalized citizen, and records from USCIS showed she obtained a permanent resident status on March 31, 2023, which included an Alien File number and her country of birth, Mexico. The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Statewide Prosecution. Quintana is accused of violating two state statutes, including unqualified noncitizen electors willfully voting and false swearing. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.