The United States Department of Justice has brought charges against 16 foreign nationals for allegedly voting illegally in federal elections, falsely claiming American citizenship to register to vote, and a range of related offences including wire fraud, passport fraud, and unlawful firearm purchases. The cases span multiple federal districts, covering defendants from countries including Nigeria, Mexico, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Three Nigerian Nationals Among the Accused
Three Nigerian nationals are named in the charges. In Massachusetts, Gladys Adaeze Okafor, 56, a lawful permanent resident, was arrested and charged with illegally casting a ballot in the 2022 elections and allegedly voting again in the 2024 general election.
In Texas, Helen Sayen Adams, 67, who became a lawful permanent resident in May 2024, faces charges of voting by a non-citizen in a federal election and making a false claim of citizenship to register to vote. A third Nigerian national, Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom, 27, a lawful permanent resident since 2016, has been charged with making false statements in connection with a naturalisation application.
Cases Across Multiple States
In the Northern District of Georgia, Analiea Milliscent Eccles, 44, a Venezuelan national and DACA recipient, is accused of casting ballots nine times between 2008 and 2024. She appeared in federal court following her arrest on charges of voting as a non-citizen and making a false claim of US citizenship.
The most extensive set of charges was filed in Idaho, where Avila Gomez, an undocumented Mexican national, allegedly used a false citizenship claim to register and vote in both May 2022 and November 2024. A federal grand jury in Boise indicted Gomez on charges that include wire fraud, theft of government funds, false statements in a passport application, fraud connected to identity document production, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
In New Jersey, Santana Coulibaly, a lawful permanent resident, is accused of registering to vote in October 2016, voting in federal elections in 2018 and 2020, and submitting a provisional ballot during the 2024 presidential election. She also allegedly made fraudulent statements in two separate naturalisation applications.
Other Defendants and Legal Proceedings
In Michigan, Russian national Victoria Viktorivna Aquilina, 43, registered to vote in 2023 and allegedly cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. In Wisconsin, Colombian national Julieta Englestad, 53, faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted on the illegal registration charge, along with up to one year for the illegal voting count.
In Western Texas, Monica Carzoli, 46, a Mexican national with permanent residency, admitted to registering and voting in the November 2024 election and was arrested in Del Rio.
The Justice Department noted that all complaints, indictments, and information documents contain only accusations, and all 16 defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Full List of Defendants
- Moises Anwar Arellano-Alba — Mexico
- Helen Sayen Adams — Nigeria
- Joshua Nmelichukwu Akpom — Nigeria
- Carlos Salas Barrios — Mexico
- Khalwinder Singh Bhengura — India
- Celestin Katubadi — Democratic Republic of Congo
- Rocio Thrasher — Mexico
- Monica Carzoli — Mexico
- Avila Gomez — Mexico
- Pauline Lewis — Antigua and Barbuda
- Gabriel Covarrubias — Mexico
- Analiea Milliscent Eccles — Venezuela
- Gladys Adaeze Okafor — Nigeria
- Julieta Englestad — Colombia
- Santana Coulibaly — Nationality not stated
- Victoria Viktorivna Aquilina — Russia
The charges come amid heightened scrutiny of election integrity in the United States, with federal authorities pursuing cases across multiple jurisdictions. The Justice Department has released photographs of some of the suspects, and further court proceedings are expected in the coming months.
