The Justice Department announced that 16 noncitizens have been charged in election-related cases across three states, including defendants accused of casting ballots in multiple federal elections over decades.
The cases announced Friday involve 10 defendants in North Carolina, five in New York, and one in Idaho. Fifteen are lawful permanent residents, commonly known as green-card holders, while one defendant is described by federal prosecutors as an illegal alien.
The allegations range from voting as a noncitizen to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or vote.
The longest alleged voting history identified by the Justice Department belongs to Robert Harold Corbett, 69, a Canadian national and lawful permanent resident in North Carolina.
Federal prosecutors say Corbett registered to vote in 1998 and voted in general elections in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2016, and 2024. The DOJ release also lists a 2024 vote and says he registered in 1998.
The department did not explain in Friday’s announcement how Corbett remained registered for that period or when investigators first detected his immigration status.
North Carolina Cases Span Multiple Elections
Ten defendants charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina are accused of illegally participating in the 2024 election, with several alleged to have voted in earlier elections as well.
Eduardd Omar Majano Sosa, 22, an illegal alien from El Salvador, allegedly registered in 2024 and voted in that year’s general election. Prosecutors charged him with falsely claiming citizenship to vote and voting as an alien.
The other nine North Carolina defendants are described as lawful permanent residents.
Gjina Gojcaj McDonald, 60, a national of the former Yugoslavia, allegedly registered in 2008 and voted in general elections in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022, and 2024, along with a 2012 primary and 2019 special election.
German national Karl Fout, 73, allegedly registered in 2008 and voted in seven general elections between 2008 and 2024.
Ramona Abreu-Exia, 71, also a German national and lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered in 2004 and voted in general elections in 2004, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2024, as well as a 2008 primary.
Other North Carolina defendants named by DOJ include James Edward Herrmann, Lawton Caswell McKenzie, Lionel Paul, Ludgardys Olena Matthews, and Mervin Sylvester Bogle.
Federal prosecutors have not alleged that every defendant followed the same path onto the voter rolls, and Friday’s announcement does not explain how the registrations were initially approved.
Five Charged In New York
Five lawful permanent residents were arrested on voter-fraud charges in the Northern District of New York.
British nationals Vikki Bradt and Samantha Merkle, Bosnian national Suad Sasic, and Canadian nationals Jacques Patry and Paula Stitt each face a charge of voting by an alien.
Prosecutors allege each voted in an election that included candidates for federal office.
The Justice Department also included Canadian national Taralynn Bosco, 48, in Idaho among Friday’s cases. Bosco, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly voted in the 2022 general election despite not being a U.S. citizen.
A separate District of Idaho announcement earlier this week said Bosco was charged October 7 and faces up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 if convicted.
Federal Enforcement Has Accelerated
Friday’s announcement comes during a broader federal push involving noncitizen voting and voter-registration records.
As The Dallas Express previously reported, Texas defendants accounted for eight of another 16-person Justice Department election-crime announcement in September.
DX also reported last month on a Midland case involving a lawful permanent resident accused of registering with a Texas driver’s license and voting in the 2024 general election.
The enforcement push continued, as on Thursday, the Justice Department sued California after federal officials said they had identified more than 20,000 people on the state’s voter rolls whom they believe are likely noncitizens. That figure represents people identified for further citizenship review and does not establish that all 20,000 voted illegally.
Federal law generally prohibits noncitizens from voting in elections held in whole or in part to select the president, vice president, presidential electors, or members of Congress.
The charges announced Friday remain allegations. None of the 16 defendants has been convicted based on the newly announced charges, and each is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Provided by Dallas Express
