NEWARK, N.J. — Federal prosecutors in New Jersey charged four noncitizen residents with illegally voting in federal elections between 2020 and 2024. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey said the four were not U.S. citizens when they registered to vote and cast ballots, and later submitted applications for naturalization in which they falsely claimed to have never voted or registered to vote in a federal election.

The charges include illegally voting in a federal election, making false statements when applying for citizenship, and unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. Each defendant cast ballots in at least one federal election after falsely attesting that they were U.S. citizens on voter registration forms.

Those charged in separate criminal complaints are Liberian national David Neewilly, 73, of Atlantic County; Jamaican national Jacenth Beadle Exum, 70, of Bergen County; Israeli national Idan Choresh, 43, of Monmouth County; and Indian national Abhinandan Vig, 33, of Monmouth County. Neewilly voted in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections; Beadle Exum and Vig voted in the 2020 presidential election; and Choresh voted in the 2022 midterm election, according to prosecutors.

"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," New Jersey U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said. "Today's charges reflect this Office's commitment to protecting the integrity of our election system, and ensuring that those who attempt to circumvent both our voting laws and our naturalization process are held accountable," he said.

Frazer was appointed U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in March, ending a standoff between the judiciary and the Trump administration over control of the office.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed the prosecutions in a statement. "This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible. As alleged, these green card holders lied in order to register to vote and then lied again to immigration authorities by falsely claiming never to have voted in a federal election. This Justice Department will use every authority to protect the integrity of US elections, including by prosecuting any noncitizens who lie about their legal status in an attempt to vote," Blanche said.

The District of New Jersey's Election Integrity Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the charges. The task force was launched last year and focuses on election-related crimes, including voter registration fraud, casting of fraudulent ballots, voting by noncitizens, and individuals voting multiple times in the same election.