WASHINGTON — Federal agents have arrested ten noncitizens accused of illegally voting in North Carolina elections over a span of nearly three decades, the Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday, in a case federal prosecutors call a warning to anyone considering voting illegally in the 2026 midterms.
The arrests, made Oct. 14 and 15 by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, targeted nine lawful permanent residents and one illegal alien who have been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, according to the official DHS announcement. All ten are charged — not convicted — and remain presumed innocent.
TL;DR: On Oct. 14-15, 2026, HSI and the FBI arrested ten noncitizens — nine lawful permanent residents and one illegal alien — charged with voting by an alien in federal elections in North Carolina. Federal prosecutors allege the defendants falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to register and cast ballots in elections from 1998 to 2024. The cases are part of a broader federal enforcement push against noncitizen voting nationwide.
Ten Defendants, Decades of Ballots
Federal prosecutors say the ten defendants illegally voted in North Carolina elections across multiple cycles. The DHS release names each one:
- Edduard Omar Majano-Sosa, an illegal alien from El Salvador, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering to vote in 2024 and voting by an alien in the 2024 general election. He allegedly entered the U.S. illegally near El Paso, Texas, in July 2022. He faces an additional charge of being a prohibited person with a firearm after a pistol was found in his vehicle during his arrest.
- Karl Paul Fout, from Germany, charged with falsely claiming citizenship to register in 2008 and voting by an alien. Prosecutors allege he illegally voted in seven general elections from 2008 to 2024. His criminal history includes prior drug convictions, according to DHS.
- Lawton Caswell Broomfield E McKenzie, from Jamaica, charged with false claims to citizenship for registering in 2007 and 2012 and voting by an alien. He allegedly voted in three general elections between 2012 and 2024.
- Lionel Paul, from Haiti, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 2024 and voting by an alien in the 2024 general election.
- James Edward Herrmann, from Germany, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 2018 and voting by an alien in two general elections between 2018 and 2024.
- Ramona Abreu-Exia, from Germany, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 2004 and voting by an alien in eight general elections from 2004 to 2024, plus the 2008 primary election.
- Mervin Sylvester Bogle, from Jamaica, charged with falsely claiming citizenship to vote, registering in 2024 and voting in three general elections between 2008 and 2024.
- Robert Harold Corbett, from Canada, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 1998 and voting by an alien in six general elections between 1998 and 2024.
- Ludgardys Olena Matthews, from Panama, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 2009 and voting by an alien in three general elections between 2018 and 2024, plus the 2020 primary election.
- Gjina Gojcaj McDonald, from Montenegro, charged with false claim to citizenship for registering in 2008 and voting by an alien in seven general elections from 2008 to 2024, plus the 2012 primary and the 2019 special election.
“Every Voting Citizen Is a Victim”
Federal officials framed the arrests as a defense of election integrity. “These aliens have been arrested and charged with illegally voting in multiple elections,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “They knowingly violated our laws.”
“Every non-citizen who chooses to illegally vote subverts our constitutional republic, actively canceling out the vote of a law-abiding citizen,” said Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “These indictments should serve as a stark warning to anyone contemplating voting illegally in our 2026 election: we are watching, we will find you if you do it, and we will prosecute you.”
The timing is notable: the charges were announced as North Carolinians headed to the polls for the start of early voting in the 2026 midterms, according to the DOJ’s companion announcement.
A Broader National Enforcement Push
The North Carolina arrests are part of a wider federal crackdown on noncitizen voting that DHS detailed alongside the announcement. Recent actions cited by the department include arrests in New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kansas, and Louisiana, as well as federal indictments of ten noncitizens in Minnesota in September.
DHS has also announced broader election-security steps, including a 2026 election infrastructure security plan from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, stricter ICE enforcement penalties for noncitizens who vote illegally, and warnings to secretaries of state about tens of thousands of noncitizens appearing on voter rolls.
Note: this case is distinct from the previously reported case of a convicted felon charged with voting in three North Carolina elections. These ten defendants are noncitizens charged with voting by an alien and false claims to citizenship.
FAQ
Who was arrested in the North Carolina voter fraud case?
Ten noncitizens — nine lawful permanent residents and one illegal alien — arrested by HSI and the FBI on Oct. 14 and 15, 2026, on charges of voting by an alien in a federal election and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
How many elections did they allegedly vote in?
Alleged voting spans from 1998 to 2024. One defendant, Ramona Abreu-Exia, allegedly voted in eight general elections from 2004 to 2024 plus a 2008 primary; others are accused of voting in between one and seven general elections.
What charges do the defendants face?
False claim to citizenship to register to vote, and voting by an alien in a federal election. Falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote is a felony carrying up to five years in prison. One defendant also faces a prohibited-person-with-a-firearm charge after a pistol was found in his vehicle during arrest.
Have the defendants been convicted?
No. All ten are charged, not convicted, and remain presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Which agencies made the arrests?
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with the cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Is this part of a larger enforcement effort?
Yes. DHS described it as part of a broader national focus on noncitizen voting, citing recent arrests and indictments in Minnesota, New Jersey, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Louisiana, plus new election-security measures from CISA and ICE.
Why were the arrests announced now?
The DHS announcement came Oct. 23, 2026, as North Carolinians began early voting in the 2026 midterms — timing prosecutors tied to their warning against illegal voting in that election.
What is the maximum penalty?
False claim to citizenship for voting purposes carries up to five years in federal prison per count; voting by an alien is also a federal felony.
How is this different from the other North Carolina voter fraud case?
This site previously covered a case involving a convicted felon charged with voting in three elections. This new case involves ten noncitizens — nine green-card holders and one illegal alien — charged under the federal alien-voting statutes. They are separate prosecutions.
Featured image: voters at polling booths in North Carolina. Photo via NBC News.
