Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have announced charges against four noncitizens for allegedly voting in U.S. elections and making false statements during their naturalization proceedings. The cases, unveiled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, stem from investigations conducted by the district’s Election Integrity Task Force, a body dedicated to probing and prosecuting election-related offenses.
According to criminal complaints filed, each of the four individuals was not a U.S. citizen at the time they registered to vote, yet they certified on official forms that they were eligible to participate in federal elections. Federal law explicitly mandates U.S. citizenship as a prerequisite for both registering to vote and casting a ballot in federal elections. Subsequently, prosecutors allege that these individuals submitted Form N-400 applications for citizenship and, under oath, falsely stated that they had never registered to vote or participated in a federal election.
The defendants identified in the complaints include David Neewilly, 73, who is accused of voting in both the 2020 and 2024 general elections. Neewilly faces one count of voting by an alien and one count of making false statements related to naturalization. Jacenth Beadle has been charged with making false statements after allegedly casting a ballot in the 2020 election. Idan Choresh faces multiple charges, including voting by an alien, unlawful procurement of citizenship, and making false statements, following allegations of voting in the 2022 midterm elections. The fourth defendant, Abhinandan Vig, is charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship, having allegedly voted in the 2020 presidential election.
The potential penalties for these offenses vary significantly upon conviction. Voting by a noncitizen carries a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison. Making false statements to federal authorities can result in a sentence of up to five years, while unlawful attempts to obtain citizenship may lead to penalties of up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer commented on the charges, stating that they underscore the office's commitment to upholding election laws. "As alleged, the defendants broke federal law by voting in elections they were not eligible to participate in, and then made false statements under oath to conceal that conduct," Frazer said in a statement. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche also weighed in on the cases, indicating that the Justice Department intends to pursue violations connected to both the voting process and immigration procedures. "This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible," Blanche asserted, adding that authorities would utilize all available legal tools to address such instances.
The charges brought against Neewilly, Beadle, Choresh, and Vig are allegations, and all four individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The cases are expected to proceed through the federal legal system, where prosecutors will aim to demonstrate that the defendants knowingly violated both election and immigration statutes.
This announcement highlights ongoing enforcement efforts aimed at bolstering election integrity and ensuring the veracity of the naturalization process. Federal officials have consistently emphasized that both systems rely heavily on accurate and truthful declarations made under oath by individuals. The New Jersey GOP also commented on the development via social media, stating, "Election integrity matters! Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged four noncitizens for allegedly voting in federal elections and then lying about it during the citizenship process. Cases like this reinforce why enforcing election laws and safeguarding our system…" The cases underscore the federal government's focus on maintaining the legal framework surrounding participation in the nation's democratic processes.
