Federal complaint filed against Wilmington man for illegally voting
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A federal criminal complaint filed March 23 accuses Jaymes Osborne, a registered sex offender of illegally voting while serving a felony sentence.
The complaint also alleges he submitted a false voter registration application in 2025.
Federal authorities say those actions violate u-s election laws involving false statements and fraudulent ballots.
According to the FBI, Osborne was on supervised release for a prior child pornography conviction — making him ineligible to vote under state law.
Investigators say Osborne falsely certified he had completed his sentence and went on to vote in multiple elections, including in November 2024 and February 2026.
Osborne admitted to WWAY he cast a ballot earlier this month in the primary election, in which Rick Southerland — his roommate — ran for New Hanover County Board of Education.
North Carolina law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony from voting until their probation ends.
Osborne remains under supervised release for obtaining child pornography until January 2039.
