DOJ Announces Election Charges Involving 48 Noncitizens

Charges span five states

The Justice Department announced election-related criminal charges involving 48 noncitizens on Oct. 26, 2026. The cases are in Nevada, Pennsylvania, California, Florida and New York and concern alleged illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration and related offenses.

The department said some defendants are accused of voting in federal elections despite not being U.S. citizens. Other allegations involve falsely claiming U.S. citizenship while registering to vote or casting a ballot. California defendants also face felony charges that include alleged false statements on applications for U.S. citizenship.

The announcement covers conduct connected with elections in 2020, 2022 and 2024, as well as voter registrations dating to 2019. Nevada is one of the five states included in the group of cases.

Eastern Pennsylvania cases

Four people were charged in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with voting as noncitizens.

Alfredo Santiesteban, 73, a Cuban national whom the Justice Department described as being in the country illegally, was charged with one count over an allegation that he voted in the 2024 general election.

Artur Kopacz, 50, a Polish national and lawful permanent resident, faces two counts. The department alleges that he voted in the 2022 and 2024 general elections.

Osmal Loy, 70, a Cuban national and lawful permanent resident, was charged with one count tied to alleged voting in the 2024 general election. Yehuda Peer, 30, an Israeli national and lawful permanent resident, also faces one count over alleged voting in that election.

The Justice Department said each of the four was charged by information, a type of formal criminal filing.

Middle Pennsylvania cases

Five lawful permanent residents were charged in the Middle District of Pennsylvania with voting as noncitizens.

Nina Nyawara, 21, a Kenyan national, allegedly voted in a 2024 election that included races for president, vice president, U.S. Senate and the U.S. House.

Inna Henry, 52, a Russian national, allegedly voted in a 2022 election that included U.S. Senate and House contests. Joyce Donovan, 38, a Kenyan national, allegedly voted in a 2024 election for president, vice president, Senate and House.

Joyce Pitts, 80, a Dutch national, and Nourten Kuruju, 64, a Greek national, each face allegations that they voted in a 2022 election that included contests for president, vice president, Senate and House.

California allegations

Thirteen defendants in the Central District of California face felony charges. The alleged offenses include false statements made as part of the naturalization process.

Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a Belizean national and lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in September 2019 after claiming to be a U.S. citizen. The Justice Department alleges that he then voted in 2020, twice in 2022 and again in 2024. He is also accused of falsely stating under oath on his naturalization application that he had never claimed U.S. citizenship.

Amandeep Kaur, 30, an Indian national and lawful permanent resident seeking U.S. citizenship, allegedly registered to vote in December 2022 and voted in the November 2024 election.

The allegations announced across the five states cover several distinct acts: registering to vote, casting ballots and answering citizenship-related questions. Each defendant’s case proceeds separately through the court handling the relevant charge.