Rock Hill Man Indicted on Federal Charge of Voting While Not a U.S. Citizen

A Rock Hill man who holds legal permanent resident status has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a single charge of voting illegally as a noncitizen in the 2024 election, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced Wednesday.

Ekam Monfum, 38, faces one count of illegally voting as an alien. The U.S. Attorney’s Office presented the indictment, which was returned in Columbia.

The case draws national questions about voter eligibility down to York County, where Monfum lives. South Carolina law and federal law both require that only U.S. citizens cast ballots in federal elections, and the charge centers on a registration submitted through the South Carolina Election Commission.

According to the indictment, Monfum came to the United States in December 2022 and obtained legal permanent resident status because he is married to a U.S. citizen. Prosecutors allege that in August 2024 a voter registration was submitted in Monfum’s name through the South Carolina Election Commission registration portal. That process requires the registrant to affirm U.S. citizenship. The indictment alleges that Monfum then voted in the 2024 election despite not being a citizen.

If convicted, Monfum faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison and a fine of up to $100,000. An arraignment is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield is prosecuting.

Federal officials emphasized that the indictment contains only accusations and that Monfum is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

The arraignment date will determine when the case moves forward in federal court in South Carolina.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina, news release “Legal Permanent Resident Indicted for Illegally Voting in 2024 Election,” June 10, 2026.