The Justice Department announced charges Thursday against 18 more noncitizens accused of illegally voting in North Carolina’s 2024 election, bringing the number charged statewide this year to 30 as federal officials warn against unlawful voting ahead of the midterm elections.
The prosecutions add to a nationwide enforcement push that had resulted in charges against roughly 160 noncitizens for illegal voting and registration offenses between January 2025 and September 2026, according to Justice Department figures.
The latest cases span all three federal judicial districts in North Carolina, with nine defendants charged in the Eastern District, five in the Middle District, and four in the Western District. Seventeen are described as lawful permanent residents, while one is accused of being in the country illegally. Only U.S. citizens may vote in most elections.
“Illegal voting is just that: illegal,” acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said. “If you’re not an American citizen, you cannot vote in our federal elections. We want to prevent illegal voting from occurring, which is why we’ve now charged 30 people just in North Carolina who have violated our laws by illegally registering to vote and illegally voting. We need to preserve the integrity of the ballot box by ensuring only those eligible are casting ballots.”
Prosecutors allege all nine newly charged Eastern District defendants falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to register and vote in the 2024 general election. Several are also accused of casting ballots in earlier elections, with voting histories that authorities say stretch back decades.
Among them is Gregory Eugene Wade, 64, a Bermuda native and lawful permanent resident living in Wake County. Authorities allege he registered in 2000 and voted in 12 general elections through 2024, as well as two primaries. Elizabeth Margaret Crudup, 52, a Kenyan native living in Harnett County, allegedly voted in nine general elections and nine primaries.
Selvin Porfidio Gonzalez Escobar, 43, a Guatemalan national living in Robeson County, whom authorities describe as an illegal immigrant, allegedly voted in the 2020 and 2024 general elections.
“The right to vote is fundamental to American citizenship and a cornerstone of our republic,” U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop said. “This office is committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring that laws enacted to ensure fairness and secure our rights are upheld. These charges serve notice that those who violate our election laws, including non-citizens who register and vote, will be investigated and prosecuted.”
The announcement follows an Oct. 23 Department of Homeland Security release describing the arrests of 10 previously charged North Carolina defendants on Oct. 14 and 15. Those arrests involved nine lawful permanent residents and one person authorities said was unlawfully present.
Falsely claiming citizenship to vote carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to the DOJ. Voting as a noncitizen carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating.
Earlier this week, the DOJ announced a separate batch of charges against 48 noncitizens with federal voting crimes, the Washington Examiner reported Monday.
ELECTION LAWSUITS TO WATCH ONE WEEK BEFORE THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS
The announcement comes as the DOJ is suing California to set aside mail ballots associated with roughly 20,000 voters it suspects are noncitizens. U.S. District Judge David Carter, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, denied the department’s emergency request Wednesday, but federal prosecutor Bill Essayli said the government had filed an appeal.
“The district court denied our emergency request to sequester ballots from 20,000 suspected noncitizens. Every day, more ballots are processed by election officials,” Essayli said on X. “This ongoing emergency disenfranchises American citizens through dilution. The Solicitor General authorized an immediate appeal. We filed our Notice of Appeal and will immediately seek an emergency order from the Ninth Circuit.”
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
