On Monday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed charges against 16 foreign nationals in the United States for election-related offenses, which include casting ballots illegally and fraudulent voter registration.
Federal authorities indicated that more than a dozen individuals from Florida, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have been charged with these election crimes.
Among those accused of unlawfully voting in the 2024 presidential election are 60-year-old Andrea Catanese from Italy, 37-year-old Terrance Patrick Evans from the Bahamas, 68-year-old Pedro Pablo Ruiz from Cuba, 34-year-old Zianya Yllaly Zamorano from Mexico, 56-year-old Dudley Francisco Zeledon from Nicaragua, and 30-year-old Sara Luma from North Macedonia.
In Minnesota, charges have also been leveled against 10 foreign nationals for offenses like wrongfully claiming U.S. citizenship and voting illegally.
The individuals charged in Minnesota include:
- Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, a Liberian national, accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register to vote on October 18, 2024. Her initial court appearance was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
- Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, a Lithuanian national, charged with voting illegally as an alien in Minnesota on November 8, 2022. She, too, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
- Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, a Ghanaian national, facing two counts of making false citizenship claims and one count of voting illegally as an alien. His alleged infractions include voting unlawfully on August 11, 2026, and falsely asserting U.S. citizenship on October 23, 2024, and August 11, 2026. His initial appearance was on September 28, 2026.
- Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, also a Liberian national, accused of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and of casting an illegal vote on November 5, 2024. He had an initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 28, 2026.
- Paul Kras, 78, a German national, charged with voting illegally as an alien on November 5, 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
- Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, a Bosnian national, accused of both voting illegally and falsely claiming citizenship on November 5, 2024. He made his initial court appearance on September 29, 2026.
- Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, a Brazilian national, charged similarly as the others for voting and falsely asserting citizenship on November 5, 2024, with his initial hearing occurring on September 29, 2026.
- Chris Adam Pettiquoi, 43, yet another Liberian national, facing charges for making false citizenship claims and voting illegally on November 5, 2024. His initial appearance was on September 29, 2026.
- Christian Liam Schenk, 47, a Canadian national, charged with similar offenses — voting illegally and falsely claiming citizenship — on November 5, 2024. He had his initial appearance in the District of Massachusetts on September 29, 2026.
- Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69, a South African national, charged with making false citizenship claims and voting illegally on November 5, 2024. She also appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026.
Previously, as reported, 10 foreign nationals were charged with similar offenses last month related to unlawful voting in various elections, including the 2024 presidential election and the 2022 midterms, occurring in states such as Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Hawaii, and Utah.
