Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 Individuals for Election Crimes

The Justice Department announced federal charges against 16 individuals, including non-citizens, for election-related crimes such as illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related offenses. The cases span multiple states and involve charges including voting by aliens, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and voting on behalf of deceased individuals. The announcement highlights efforts to address election integrity violations, with charges filed in jurisdictions including New Mexico, North Carolina, Alabama, and Ohio.

Among those charged is Patrick Perea, 62, who was indicted for attempting to cast his deceased wife’s absentee ballot in the November 2024 general election in New Mexico. Additionally, Forrest Scott Woody, 68, of North Carolina, faces charges for voting twice in the 2024 general election, once in Alabama and once in North Carolina. Cuban national Andre’s Garcia, 64, a lawful permanent resident, was charged with illegally voting in federal elections in 2022 and 2024 despite knowing he was not a U.S. citizen.

Canadian national Stanley Walton, 82, a lawful permanent resident, was charged with unlawfully voting in the 2022 general election, while British national Cary Ann Patterson, 59, faces allegations of voting in November 2024 despite being a non-citizen. Polish national Dawid Nalepa, 45, was charged with voting in the November 2024 general election after overstaying his visa. The cases include charges of voting by aliens, unlawful procurement of citizenship, and false statements on citizenship applications.

The Justice Department emphasized that charges are accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ten defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on September 24, with additional charges filed via complaint or information. The cases reflect ongoing efforts to address election crimes and maintain the integrity of the voting process.