Russian National Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Voter Fraud, ID Theft Scam in Florida

Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a Russian citizen living in Miami Beach, Florida, was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in prison and three years of supervised release for organizing an identity theft fraud scheme and ordered to pay $458,839.69 in restitution.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Shushlebin’s scheme included efforts to submit more than 100 fraudulent voter registration applications to create fake identities that he could use to commit financial fraud.

Per the DOJ:

On July 24, 2025, the United States filed a four-count superseding information charging Shushlebin with conspiracy to give false information in registering to vote and submit fraudulent voter registrations, wire fraud, making false statements, and aggravated identity theft. Shushlebin pleaded guilty to all four counts on July 25, 2025.

According to court documents, Shushlebin hired Sanjar Jamilov, an Uzbekistani national, and others to submit more than 100 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023.

One purpose of registering these fake voters was to create synthetic or fake identities that Shushlebin could use to commit financial fraud. Shushlebin used the fake identities to obtain fraudulent credit cards and loans. He perpetrated this scheme against the victim financial institutions hundreds of times using hundreds of different synthetic identities.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division noted, “Those who engage in fraud and deception in our election processes will be investigated and prosecuted.”

“After arriving in the United States, Dmitry Shushlebin created sham companies to facilitate a multi-year financial fraud scheme. He used these companies to commit identity theft, which allowed him to create synthetic or fake identities that appeared real after they were used to submit over 100 false voter registrations.”

U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida added, “Voting is one of the most significant rights and responsibilities Americans have.”

“We will continue to investigate threats to the integrity of our electoral process and prosecute those who engage in fraud or other means to violate our nation’s voting laws.”

“Combating fraud and identity theft are critical missions of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate those individuals who use the mail to enrich themselves at the expense of others.”