WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • The DOJ charged 16 foreign nationals with election crimes across Florida, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
  • Six defendants are accused of illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election.
  • Ten Minnesota defendants face allegations including voting by alien and falsely claiming United States citizenship to vote.
  • The charges follow similar cases announced last month against 10 other foreign nationals in seven states.

The Department of Justice announced charges Monday against 16 foreign nationals accused of election crimes across the United States. The allegations include illegally voting and fraudulently registering to vote, bringing federal scrutiny to cases in Florida, Louisiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Federal prosecutors said more than a dozen foreign nationals were charged across those four states. Six of the defendants are accused of illegally voting in the 2024 presidential election, while 10 others face charges in Minnesota.

The six accused of voting illegally in the presidential contest are Andrea Catanese, 60, an Italian national; Terrance Patrick Evans, 37, a Bahamian national; Pedro Pablo Ruiz, 68, a Cuban national; Zianya Yllaly Zamorano, 34, a Mexican national; Dudley Francisco Zeledon, 56, a Nicaraguan national; and Sara Luma, 30, a North Macedonian national.

Prosecutors separately announced charges against 10 foreign nationals in Minnesota. The alleged offenses include falsely claiming American citizenship to vote and illegally casting ballots as aliens.

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Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, a Liberian national, faces one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote. She allegedly claimed United States citizenship while registering to vote on October 18, 2024.

Bryant appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard on September 29, 2026. Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, a Lithuanian national, faces one count of voting by alien after allegedly voting illegally in Minnesota on November 8, 2022.

Edmunds also appeared before Bullard on September 29, 2026. Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, a Ghanaian national, faces two counts of making a false citizenship claim in order to vote and one count of voting by alien.

Edzie allegedly voted illegally in Minnesota on August 11, 2026. He is also accused of falsely claiming United States citizenship in order to vote on October 23, 2024, and August 11, 2026, and appeared before Bullard on September 28, 2026.

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Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, a Liberian national, faces one count of making a false citizenship claim in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. He allegedly committed both offenses in Minnesota on November 5, 2024.

Kargbo appeared before Bullard on September 28, 2026. Paul Kras, 78, a German national, faces one count of voting by alien after allegedly voting illegally in Minnesota on November 5, 2024, and appeared before Bullard the following September 29.

Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, a Bosnian national, faces one count of making a false citizenship claim in order to vote and one count of voting by alien. Both alleged offenses occurred in Minnesota on November 5, 2024.

Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, a Brazilian national, faces the same two counts. Prosecutors allege that Padovan illegally voted and falsely claimed United States citizenship in Minnesota on November 5, 2024.

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Ozegovic and Padovan each appeared before Bullard on September 29, 2026. Chris Adam Pettiquoi, 43, a Liberian national, also faces one count of making a false citizenship claim in order to vote and one count of voting by alien.

Pettiquoi allegedly committed both offenses in Minnesota on November 5, 2024, and appeared before Bullard on September 29, 2026. Christian Liam Schenk, 47, a Canadian national, faces the same two counts over alleged conduct on that date.

Schenk had his initial appearance in the District of Massachusetts on September 29, 2026. Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69, a South African national, also faces one count of making a false citizenship claim in order to vote and one count of voting by alien.

Weihmann allegedly voted illegally and falsely claimed United States citizenship in Minnesota on November 5, 2024. She appeared before Bullard on September 29, 2026.

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The latest charges follow cases announced the previous month against 10 other foreign nationals. Those defendants were accused of similar crimes involving the 2024 presidential election, the 2022 midterm elections, and the 2022 primary elections.

Prosecutors said those earlier election crimes occurred in Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Hawaii, and Utah. Taken together, the two rounds of charges cover allegations involving illegal voting and false citizenship claims in multiple elections and states.

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