Federal prosecutors charged 48 non-citizens across five states, including 18 individuals in North Carolina, with voter registration fraud and illegal voting.
The Department of Justice brought election-related charges against foreign nationals in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, and Nevada, with the North Carolina indictments adding to a growing statewide total. Federal officials distributed the 18 North Carolina cases across three judicial districts: nine in the Eastern District, five in the Middle District, and four in the Western District, according to the Justice Department announcement.
North Carolina Indictments Bring Statewide Total to Thirty
The latest filing follows 12 indictments unveiled earlier in October by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, pushing the total number of individuals indicted in the state this year to 30. The defendants include lawful permanent residents accused of falsely claiming American citizenship to register and vote in the 2024 general election.
Among those charged in New Hanover County are 62-year-old Richard John Reid, a native of the United Kingdom who registered to vote in 2002, and 58-year-old Taso Gretes, a native of Greece and citizen of Canada who registered in 2022, prosecutors announced. Other defendants span multiple counties, including Jacqueline Brown, a Singapore native and British citizen living in Duplin County.
Investigation Prior to Supreme Court Order
The state sent more names to the FBI than the 30 who have been charged so far.
Federal Arrests Span Multiple States and Legal Penalties
In Florida, Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested five non-citizens. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended the enforcement actions, stating that Thanks to the great work of the patriots at HSI, as well as our state and local partners, five more non-citizens have been arrested and charged for illegally voting in past elections,
Mullin said in a statement.
Nationwide, the 48 charged individuals include permanent residents and foreign nationals from various countries, such as Honduran national Carlos Antonio Galeas and Mexican national Maricela Nazarín González. In California, four Filipino citizens—Giezell Viduya Adawag, José Probitsado Amaro, Pamele Arbués Line, and Jullie Ann Sumalinog Moore—faced similar federal charges involving false citizenship claims and unlawful voting.
Federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, continue to coordinate with local and state partners. Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Charlotte Field Office emphasized the critical role of maintaining voter confidence, stating that the integrity of federal elections remains essential to the health of the nation’s democracy. Similar statements were echoed by HSI Carolinas Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito regarding the consistent enforcement of electoral rules without fear or favor.
- Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register or vote carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Voting as an alien in a federal election carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations continue to investigate the broader network of cases across the country, while federal prosecutors in California, Florida, New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania pursue individual indictments. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
