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The Justice Department announced charges Friday against four noncitizens in New Jersey in connection with illegally voting in federal elections and making false statements while applying for US citizenship.
Liberian national David Neewilly, 73, of Atlantic County; Jamaican national Jacenth Beadle Exum, 70, of Bergen County; Israeli national Idan Choresh, 43, of Monmouth County; and Indian national Abhinandan Vig, 33, of Monmouth County were charged in four separate criminal complaints filed by the New Jersey US Attorney’s Office.
Each of the defendants cast ballots in at least one federal election after falsely attesting that they were US citizens on voter registration forms, according to the complaints.
The four were charged after an investigation conducted by the District of New Jersey’s Election Integrity Task Force.
“As alleged, the defendants broke federal law by voting in elections they were not eligible to participate in, and then made false statements under oath to conceal that conduct,” New Jersey US Attorney Robert Frazer said in a statement.
“Today’s charges reflect this Office’s commitment to protecting the integrity of our election system, and ensuring that those who attempt to circumvent both our voting laws and our naturalization process are held accountable,” he added.
Neewilly voted in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, Beadle Exum and Vig voted in the 2020 election and Choresh voted in the 2022 midterm election, according to prosecutors.
The DOJ alleges that after illegally voting in federal elections, the defendants each submitted naturalization paperwork – in an effort to become US citizens – swearing “under penalty of perjury” that they had never registered, or voted, in any federal elections, which prosecutors claimed was false.
“This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible,” acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “As alleged, these green card holders lied in order to register to vote and then lied again to immigration authorities by falsely claiming never to have voted in a federal election.
“This Justice Department will use every authority to protect the integrity of US elections, including by prosecuting any noncitizens who lie about their legal status in an attempt to vote.”
Neewilly was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and making false statements in relation to naturalization. He faces a maximum of 11 years in prison if convicted.
Choresh was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, making false statements in relation to naturalization and procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully. He faces 16 years behind bars if convicted.
Vig was charged with procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and faces 10 years imprisonment if found guilty.
Beadle Exum was charged with making false statements in relation to naturalization under two different statutes and faces 15 years in prison if convicted.
“Securing our elections from criminal actors here at home and around the world is one of the top priorities for this FBI,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
“Noncitizens voting is a federal crime – period – and while other administrations may have looked the other way in the past, those days are over,” he warned. “We continue to work around the clock with our interagency partners to ensure those who engage in such conduct will not get away with it.”
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