DOJ Charges Nine Pennsylvania Noncitizens With Illegal Voting in 2022 and 2024 Elections

Federal prosecutors announced Friday that nine Pennsylvania residents have been charged with voting by an alien in the 2022 or 2024 general elections despite knowing they were not U.S. citizens.

The cases were filed separately in the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania. U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District and U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District said the charges were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Under both federal and Pennsylvania law, only U.S. citizens may vote in state elections.

In the Eastern District, Artur Kopacz, 50, of Philadelphia, a Polish citizen and lawful permanent resident, was charged with two counts for allegedly voting in both the 2022 and 2024 general elections. Osmal Loy, 70, of Fountain Hill, a Cuban citizen and lawful permanent resident, Yehuda Peer, 30, of Merion Station, an Israeli citizen and lawful permanent resident, and Alfredo Santiesteban, 73, of Philadelphia, a Cuban citizen, were each charged with one count for allegedly voting in the 2024 election. If convicted, Kopacz faces a maximum of two years in prison, a fine, or both. The others face a maximum of one year, a fine, or both.

In the Middle District, Joyce Donovan, 38, of Selinsgrove, and Nina Nyawara, 21, also of Selinsgrove, both Kenyan citizens and lawful permanent residents, were charged with one count each for the 2024 election. Inna Henry, 52, of Harrisburg, a Russian citizen and lawful permanent resident, was charged for allegedly voting in both 2022 and 2024. Nourten Kuruju, 64, of Luzerne, a Greek citizen and lawful permanent resident, was charged for the 2022 election. Joyce Pitts, 80, of Effort, a Dutch citizen and lawful permanent resident, was charged for the 2024 election. Each faces a maximum of one year in prison, a fine, or both if convicted.

“Upholding the integrity of our elections, and the right of American citizens to determine the outcome, is non-negotiable,” Metcalf said. Miller stated that “the crime of illegal voting undermines the integrity of our elections and harms citizens by stealing the power of our votes.” HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Nathan Abel said illegally casting a ballot “corrupts the electoral process and diminishes the voice of every lawful voter.”

The charges are allegations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The nine cases follow earlier charges this fall against other noncitizens in Pennsylvania for similar alleged offenses, bringing the total number of individuals charged with noncitizen-voting-related crimes in the state to roughly 20 since September, according to contemporaneous reporting. Pennsylvania election officials have previously stated that noncitizen voting is rare.