The Department of Justice has announced charges against five individuals for voting or helping others register to vote illegally in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. The cases involve two illegal immigrants, two noncitizens, and one U.S. citizen accused of aiding his wife's registration and voting. Three defendants were charged in Pennsylvania, with possible prison sentences ranging from up to one year to 10 years if convicted. The charges are part of an effort by the Department of Justice to address election security, according to a statement from White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis.
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Story summary
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged five individuals with illegally voting or helping someone register to vote in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. Two of those charged are identified as illegal immigrants**, while another two are non-citizens, and one is a US citizen accused of helping their wife register and vote illegally. According to prosecutors, this includes cases where individuals made false statements about their citizenship or voted despite being ineligible. The charges were announced by Attorney General Todd Blanche, who emphasized the importance of election integrity and the duty of the DOJ to treat election fraud as a serious crime. White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis stated that the case highlights the need for election security, saying "any non-citizens found registering to vote and voting in our elections will be held accountable."
Written for “Voter Fraud Charges Laid” on 2026-09-05,
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The Department of Justice on Friday announced charges against five individuals for illegally voting or helping someone illegally register to vote in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.
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someone → announce → Pennsylvania
The case includes two people whom federal prosecutors identify as illegal immigrants, two other noncitizens, and one U.S. citizen accused of helping his wife illegally register and vote, according to the DOJ.
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wife → include → DOJ
“The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
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Blanche → say → American
“It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government.
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citizens → cherish → government
Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.”
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it → treat → it
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement that the charges emphasize the need for election security.
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charges → say → security
“Despite the media and Democrats claiming it never happens, the evidence of non-citizens registering to vote in our elections continues to pile up,” Bis said.
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Bis → claim → elections
“Any non-citizens found registering to vote and voting in our elections will be held accountable.
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citizens → find → elections
Only Americans should be electing American leaders.”
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Americans → elect → leaders
Three of the defendants were charged in Pennsylvania: Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife, Marisol Guzman, 50, as well as Katya Rodriguez, 30.
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Three → charge → Pennsylvania
Holtzman and Guzman, from Carlisle, were indicted on charges stemming from the latter allegedly voting as a noncitizen in the 2024 elections.
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latter → indict → elections
Guzman was charged with voting as an illegal immigrant, while Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making a false statement of citizenship and aiding and abetting fraudulent registration by helping Guzman vote.
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Guzman → charge → registration
Rodriguez, a Mexican national living in Harrisburg, was separately indicted on charges of making a false statement of citizenship, fraudulent registration, and voting as an illegal immigrant in the 2024 election, prosecutors said.
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prosecutors → live → election
Holtzman and Rodriguez face maximum prison sentences of 10 and 11 years, respectively, if convicted, while Guzman faces up to one year.
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Guzman → face → year
Prosecutors said Cardoso was in the United States on a B-2 visa and cast a ballot in the state’s June 2024 primary.
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Cardoso → say → primary
She faces up to one year in prison if convicted.
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In Wisconsin, prosecutors charged Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, a 25-year-old Mexican national, with voting as an illegal immigrant in the November 2022 midterm election.
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prosecutors → charge → election
Prosecutors allege Jurado Garcia voted despite knowing he was not a U.S. citizen.
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he → allege → ?
He faces up to one year in prison.
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He → face → prison
In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso was charged with voting as an illegal immigrant.
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Cardoso → charge → immigrant
Prosecutors allege she falsely certified that she was a U.S. citizen when she registered through the state’s online voter registration system.
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she → allege → system
The time in which Cardoso allegedly registered to vote despite not meeting citizenship requirements is the same time period in which about 6,600 noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote through New Jersey’s automatic voter registration system.
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noncitizens → register → system
Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) claimed that a “software error” caused thousands of noncitizens to be added to the state’s voter rolls.
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thousands → claim → rolls
