Two Jamaican nationals and a Haitian national are among 16 foreign citizens charged in various voter fraud cases across the United States, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday. The charges allege illegal voting in federal elections and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship for voter registration or ballot casting.
The three Caribbean nationals face charges in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Lawton Caswell McKenzie, 46, who is a lawful permanent resident from Jamaica, has been charged with one count of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote and one count of voting by a noncitizen. According to the Justice Department, McKenzie registered to vote in 2007 and 2012 and participated in the general elections in 2012, 2020, and 2024.
Another Jamaican, 60-year-old Mervin Sylvester Bogle, also a lawful permanent resident, is charged with one count of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship. Bogle registered in 2024 and voted in that year’s general election, in addition to voting in the 2008 and 2012 elections.
Haitian national Lionel Paul, 62, who is a lawful permanent resident, faces charges for falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to vote and for voting as a noncitizen. According to the Justice Department, Paul registered to vote in 2024 and cast his ballot in that general election.
The cases in North Carolina include a total of ten defendants accused of illegally voting in the 2024 elections. The group also includes nationals from El Salvador, Germany, Panama, Canada, and the former Yugoslavia.
In another case, five additional noncitizens were charged in the Northern District of New York for alleged illegal voting, including two British nationals, two Canadians, and a Bosnian national.
In Idaho, Canadian lawful permanent resident Taralynn Bosco, 48, was charged with illegal voting by a noncitizen for allegedly participating in the 2022 general election without U.S. citizenship.
The Justice Department highlighted that these allegations involve voting in elections for president, vice president, and congressional positions, as well as claims of U.S. citizenship that were made during the voter registration process or when casting ballots. The department also reminded the public that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
