DOJ Charges Five in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin With Illegal Voting

The Justice Department announced Friday that federal prosecutors charged five people this week with illegal voting or fraudulent registration tied to the 2022 or 2024 elections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. The defendants, as described in the department’s release, include two illegal aliens, two other aliens, and one U.S. citizen charged with aiding and abetting. Attorney General Todd Blanche said election integrity “should be of utmost importance to every American” and that “only eligible American citizens” may vote for their representatives. “Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.” FBI Director Kash Patel said the five, “including two illegal aliens, stole votes from American citizens when they decided to break the law.” He called election integrity “one of the top priorities for this FBI.” All five are presumed innocent. An indictment or information is only an accusation.

In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, a grand jury indicted Thomas Holtzman, 68, a U.S. citizen, and his wife Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, over Guzman’s alleged vote as an alien in the 2024 election. Guzman is charged with voting as an alien. Holtzman is charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting, and with fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting. Separately, Katya Rodriguez, 30, described by DOJ as an illegal alien from Mexico living in Harrisburg, was indicted on charges of making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration, and voting as an alien in the 2024 election. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Pennsylvania cases; Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting. If convicted, Holtzman faces up to 10 years in prison, Guzman up to one year, and Rodriguez up to 11 years, plus supervised release and fines. HSI released video of Rodriguez’s arrest. U.S. Attorney Brian Miller said illegal voting “is not a victimless crime” and “harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes.” The Pennsylvania Department of State said it received information from DOJ about the two alleged noncitizen voters in May 2025, cooperated with law enforcement, and called noncitizen voting “extremely rare” in the state.

In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. Prosecutors say she registered online through the state’s voter-registration system, falsely certified that she was a U.S. citizen, and cast a ballot in the June 2024 presidential primary. DOJ said she entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa and was not a citizen when she voted. She faces up to one year in prison and is scheduled for an initial appearance Sept. 8. The FBI, HSI, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren is prosecuting. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said, “Even one illegal vote is one too many.”

In the Western District of Wisconsin, Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, described as an illegal alien from Mexico living in Beloit, was charged Sept. 2 with voting as an alien in the Nov. 8, 2022, midterms. A criminal information alleges he voted knowing he was not a citizen in an election that included U.S. Senate and House races. He faces up to one year in prison. U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma said the charge reflects the office’s commitment to enforcing federal voting requirements. HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon said agents worked with federal partners to follow the evidence in the cases announced Friday. Federal law already bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections. The House-passed SAVE America Act, still pending in the Senate, would require documentary proof of citizenship to register.