Voter fraud charges have been filed against 10 foreign nationals in Minnesota after a federal grand jury returned separate indictments tied to alleged illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship.
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Voter Fraud Update
The charges remain allegations, and the indictments do not establish guilt.
The indictments were issued on September 24, 2026, and announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on September 30.
The USCIS notice was released on October 2 and said all 10 defendants had made their initial appearances in federal court.
The cases cover separate federal matters.
The cases involve alleged conduct during Minnesota’s November 2022 general election, November 2024 general election and August 11, 2026, primary election.
The alleged conduct spans those three election periods.
According to federal prosecutors, each defendant is a foreign national and a lawful permanent resident.
The charges range from allegedly voting while not eligible to vote to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in order to register or cast a ballot.
The allegations concern conduct that prosecutors say violated federal law.
What the Minnesota indictments allege
The 10 defendants were charged separately rather than as members of one alleged conspiracy.
Prosecutors say the cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with USCIS assistance identified in the agency’s announcement.
The voter fraud cases therefore involve individual allegations rather than one collective charge.
Federal authorities have described two primary categories of allegations: voting by a noncitizen and making a false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to vote.
These voter fraud allegations remain subject to proof in court.
- Bhator Konah Bryant, 61: The Liberian national is charged with allegedly making a false claim of citizenship when registering to vote on October 18, 2024.
- Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59: The Lithuanian national is charged with allegedly voting in Minnesota on November 8, 2022, while ineligible as a noncitizen.
- Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63: The Ghanaian national faces two false-claim counts and one voting-by-noncitizen count. Prosecutors allege the conduct occurred on October 23, 2024, and August 11, 2026.
- Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48: The Liberian national faces one false-claim count and one voting-by-noncitizen count tied to November 5, 2024.
- Paul Kras, 78: The German national is charged with allegedly voting in Minnesota on November 5, 2024.
- Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58: The Bosnian national faces one false-claim count and one voting-by-noncitizen count tied to November 5, 2024.
- Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62: The Brazilian national faces one false-claim count and one voting-by-noncitizen count tied to November 5, 2024.
- Chis Adam Pettiquoi, 43: The Liberian national is charged with allegedly making a false claim of citizenship and voting in Minnesota on November 5, 2024.
- Christian Liam Schenk, 47: The Canadian national faces one false-claim count and one voting-by-noncitizen count tied to November 5, 2024.
- Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69: The South African national faces one false-claim count and one voting-by-noncitizen count tied to November 5, 2024.
Which elections are involved
The allegations span three election periods, although most of the cases concern the November 5, 2024, general election.
The voter fraud allegations are concentrated in that election period.
| Election date | Allegations identified by prosecutors |
|---|---|
| November 8, 2022 | Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds is alleged to have voted while ineligible as a noncitizen. |
| October 23 and November 5, 2024 | Several defendants are alleged to have voted while ineligible or falsely claimed U.S. citizenship. |
| August 11, 2026 | Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie is alleged to have voted and falsely claimed citizenship in connection with the primary election. |
The Justice Department said one of the alleged illegal votes occurred during the August 2026 primary election.
The announcement did not state that the alleged conduct changed the outcome of any election.
The Justice Department’s voter fraud announcement made no claim that the election result was affected.
Potential federal penalties
Making a false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to vote is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f).
In these voter fraud cases, the maximum penalties listed by federal prosecutors are five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of as much as $250,000.
Voting by a noncitizen is charged under 18 U.S.C. § 611.
Prosecutors described that offense as a Class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum sentence of one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of as much as $100,000.
The voter fraud offense classification depends on the specific charge.
Those are statutory maximums, not automatic sentences.
Any eventual punishment would depend on the charges proven, the defendant’s criminal history, sentencing rules and decisions made by the court.
How the cases may affect immigration status
The defendants are described by the Justice Department as lawful permanent residents.
A criminal case does not itself establish that a person committed the alleged offense, and an indictment is not a conviction.
The voter fraud defendants remain entitled to the presumption of innocence.
However, a conviction for an election-related offense can create separate immigration consequences depending on the conduct, sentence and facts established in court.
Those consequences may include questions about removability, admissibility or eligibility for future immigration benefits.
A voter fraud conviction could therefore raise separate legal issues, depending on the facts.
The USCIS announcement quoted Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin as warning that noncitizens accused of voting illegally could face criminal charges and deportation.
The statement reflects the administration’s enforcement position, but the ultimate immigration outcome in any individual case would depend on applicable law and later proceedings.
The warning does not determine the result of any individual case.
What happens next
All 10 defendants have made initial appearances, according to the Justice Department and USCIS.
Initial appearances generally begin the federal criminal process and allow the court to address issues such as counsel, detention, release conditions and future hearings.
The defendants will continue through the federal court process.
The government must still prove each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
Defendants may challenge the allegations, seek dismissal of charges, negotiate a resolution or proceed to trial.
Those proceedings have not yet established criminal liability.
The cases are being prosecuted in federal court for the District of Minnesota, although the Justice Department said Christian Liam Schenk made his initial appearance in the District of Massachusetts.
The cases are therefore proceeding in the districts identified by federal authorities.
Federal authorities have not announced convictions or guilty pleas in these cases as of October 2, 2026.
The proceedings remain unresolved as of that date.
Why the charges matter for noncitizen voters
Federal law limits voting in federal elections to U.S. citizens, subject to the specific statutory provisions cited by prosecutors.
Allegations involving eligibility should be evaluated under the applicable federal law.
Noncitizens who are uncertain about their eligibility should not guess when completing voter registration or ballot materials.
Immigration status and voting eligibility are separate legal questions.
Voter fraud and immigration status can therefore involve different legal analyses.
Lawful permanent residents may live and work in the United States, but permanent residence does not make a person a U.S. citizen or generally authorize voting in federal elections.
Anyone facing questions about past registration, voting records or immigration consequences should obtain advice from a qualified attorney rather than rely on social media posts or informal guidance.
People facing related questions should seek advice based on their individual circumstances.
Indictment reminder
The charges remain allegations.
The 10 defendants are presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
The voter fraud charges therefore do not constitute convictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were indicted in the Minnesota voter fraud cases?
A federal grand jury separately indicted 10 foreign nationals on September 24, 2026, according to the Justice Department.
What are the defendants accused of doing?
The allegations include voting while ineligible as noncitizens and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in order to register or vote.
Which elections are involved?
The cases concern alleged conduct connected to Minnesota elections in November 2022, November 2024 and the August 11, 2026, primary election.
Have the defendants been convicted?
No. The indictments are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What penalties could apply if someone is convicted?
The false-citizenship charge carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Voting by a noncitizen carries a maximum of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
Fact-Checked: Key facts were checked against the USCIS announcement and the U.S. Department of Justice press release updated September 30, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article reports federal allegations and is not legal advice. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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