Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 Aliens for Illegal Voting

16 Oct 2026

Released by U.S. Department of Justice

MediaRelease.co Summary

The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against 16 noncitizens in North Carolina, New York and Idaho over alleged illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship. Ten people were charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina over voting in the 2024 elections, five were arrested in the Northern District of New York, and one Canadian national in Idaho is accused of voting in the 2022 general election. Most are lawful permanent residents; all are presumed innocent.

Original release

Today, the Justice Department announced charges involving 16 aliens in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho, including an illegal alien, in connection with illegal voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and related election crimes. The cases include voting by aliens in federal elections and false claims of U.S. citizenship to register to vote or to vote.

Case details are as follows:

Eastern District of North Carolina

10 aliens have been charged for illegally voting in the 2024 elections.

  • Eduardd Omar Majano Sosa, 22, an illegal alien from El Salvador, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2024 General Election.
  • A national of former Yugoslavia Gjina Gojcaj McDonald, 60, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2008 and voted in the 2024, 2022, 2020, 2016, 2012, 2010, and 2008 General Elections, as well as the 2019 Special Election and the 2012 Primary Election.
  • German national James Edward Herrmann, 47, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2018 and voted in the 2024 and 2020 General Elections.
  • German national Karl Fout, 73, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2008 and voted in the 2024, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, and 2008 General Elections.
  • Jamaican national Lawton Caswell McKenzie, 46, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2007 and 2012 and voted in the 2024, 2020, and 2012 General Elections.
  • Haitian national Lionel Paul, 62, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2024 General Election.
  • Panamanian national Ludgardys Olena Matthews, 62, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2009 and voted in the 2024, 2020, and 2018 General Elections, as well as the 2020 Primary Election.
  • Jamaican national Mervin Sylvester Bogle, 60, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote. He registered to vote in 2024 and completed a ballot in the 2024 General Election and voted in the 2012 and 2008 General Elections.
  • German national Ramona Abreu-Exia, 71, a lawful permanent, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. She registered to vote in 2004 and voted in the 2024, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2010, 2008, and 2004 General Elections, as well as the 2008 Primary Election.
  • Canadian national Robert Harold Corbett, 69, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien. He voted in 2024, 2016, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, and General Elections. He registered to vote in 1998.

Northern District of New York

Five aliens have been arrested for voter fraud.

  • British national Vikki Bradt, 51, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Bradt allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives.
  • British national Samantha Merkle, 55, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Merkle allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives.
  • Bosnian national Suad Sasic, 30, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Sasic allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives.
  • Canadian national Jacques Patry, 64, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Patry allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives.
  • Canadian national Paula Stitt, 57, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Stitt allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, Member of the United States Senate, or Member of the United States House of Representatives.

District of Idaho

Canadian national, Taralynn Bosco, 48, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with illegal voting by alien. Bosco allegedly voted in the 2022 general election even though she was not a United States citizen.

A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Key details

Issued by
U.S. Department of Justice
Published
16 Oct 2026
Publisher country
United States
Subject country/region
National (United States)

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-charges-involving-16-aliens-illegal-voting

MediaRelease.co ID: mr02045 · Markdown

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