The United States Justice Department has announced charges and guilty pleas against 12 individuals connected to illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration across multiple states. Three of those charged were described as illegal aliens, with cases spanning Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Hawaii, and Utah. The cases cover a range of alleged conduct, including non-citizens voting in federal elections and individuals falsely claiming US citizenship to register or cast ballots.
Among the cases is a former postal carrier accused of discarding approximately 300 mail-in ballots intended for registered voters in Utah. Damon Matai Seei, 34, a US Postal Service employee from Payson, was charged with unlawful destruction and delay of mail after allegedly discarding the ballots he was supposed to deliver. This case stands apart from the voting fraud matters, highlighting the various ways in which election integrity can be compromised.
In Florida, Christiane Vinette Young, 75, an illegal alien from Canada, faces three counts of voting by an alien after allegedly casting ballots in the 2024 general election, the 2022 general election, and the 2022 primary. Additionally, Haitian national Valery Zidor, who held Temporary Protected Status at the time, pleaded guilty to two counts of falsely claiming US citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien following participation in the 2024 general election.
In Kansas, Nigerian national George Olawunmi Johnson, a lawful permanent resident, faces charges including fraudulent election conduct and voting by an alien. Prosecutors allege he falsely indicated citizenship when registering to vote in February 2010 and cast a ballot in November 2024. This case, along with others, demonstrates the complexities of immigration status and voting rights in the United States.
In New Jersey, two individuals face charges related to voting and citizenship. Jamaican national Patrick Terrance Reid, 61, allegedly voted in presidential elections in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 and faces additional counts for false statements on a citizenship application. Venezuelan national Danubis Bernat, 49, allegedly voted in person in the 2024 general election and similarly faces false statement charges.
Four individuals were charged in Pennsylvania, among them Cliff Sanon, 39, an illegal alien from Haiti residing in Philadelphia, accused of submitting eight fraudulent voter registration applications and casting a ballot in November 2022. Dilea Ochoa-Perez, 43, an illegal alien from Mexico residing in Coatesville, allegedly voted in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections in Chester County. In Texas, Mexican national Imelda Magallanes, 51, a lawful permanent resident, is accused of voting in the November 2024 general election after registering in October 2020.
The Justice Department noted that charges and informations represent accusations only, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This announcement is part of a broader effort to address immigration and election integrity issues in the United States.
Key points
- The US Justice Department charged 12 individuals for illegal voting and election crimes.
- Three of those charged were described as illegal aliens.
- A former postal carrier is accused of discarding approximately 300 mail-in ballots in Utah.
