Department of Justice Charges 16 Individuals for Illegal Voting and Related Election Crimes
The U.S. Department of Justice charged 16 individuals with illegal voting, false citizenship claims, and related election crimes across multiple states, including Texas, Georgia, Idaho, and California.
The Justice Department announced federal charges against 16 individuals for illegal voting, false citizenship claims, and election-related fraud schemes. Allegations include non-citizens voting in federal elections, fraudulent voter registration, and additional offenses such as wire fraud and passport fraud uncovered during investigations. The cases span multiple states, with arrests and indictments filed in Texas, Georgia, Idaho, and California.
Eight individuals in Texas face charges for unlawful voting, including Mexican nationals Monica Carzoli and Avila Gomez. Carzoli admitted to registering and voting in the November 2024 election, while Gomez allegedly claimed U.S. citizenship to register and vote in 2022 and 2024. Gomez was indicted in Idaho on multiple counts, including wire fraud and false statements related to passport and firearm purchases.
Three individuals in Georgia are charged with illegal voting in U.S. elections. Nigerian national Gladys Adaeze Okafor allegedly voted in 2022 and 2024, Colombian national Julieta Englestad falsely claimed citizenship to register in 2022, and Santana Coulibaly voted in multiple elections and submitted fraudulent naturalization applications. Coulibaly was arrested this week.
A Russian national in California, Victoria Viktorivna Aquilina, was charged with illegally voting in the 2024 general election. Additionally, five individuals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin were charged this week for illegal voting in the 2022 or 2024 elections. A Mexican national in Texas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring in aliens to the United States.