Federal agents in Raleigh have arrested a Wilmington man after he allegedly bypassed election laws to cast ballots while still under government supervision for a previous felony.
James Osborne, 36, was taken into custody on a federal warrant following a criminal complaint signed by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The charges center on Osborne’s status as a convicted felon; federal law prohibited him from registering or voting because he is currently serving a term of supervised release for a conviction involving the possession of child pornography.
Court documents reveal that Osborne, who is required to register as a sex offender, allegedly misled election officials on multiple occasions. Investigators say he signed and submitted a voter registration form on November 4, 2025.
He is also accused of voting in person at an elementary school during the November 5, 2024, presidential election, and again at a public library during the February 25, 2026, primary.
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Authorities state that during each instance, Osborne falsely claimed to officials that he was not serving a felony sentence.
“This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment to election security and serves as a warning that we will arrest and prosecute anyone who illegally participates in our democratic process,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
Osborne now faces charges of making false statements on a voter registration or ballot. Under federal law, these violations carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count.
The announcement of the arrest was made by Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The case remains under investigation by the FBI, with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Petracca leading the prosecution.
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