Four Noncitizens Charged with Illegal Voting in Three Federal Election Cycles in New Jersey

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have charged four noncitizens with illegally voting in multiple federal elections and making false statements on U.S. citizenship applications. The defendants allegedly cast ballots in the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections as well as the 2022 midterms, according to criminal complaints filed in the District of New Jersey.

The accused are David Neewilly, 73, of Atlantic County; Jacenth Beadle Exum, 70, of Bergen County; Idan Choresh, 43, of Monmouth County; and Abhinandan Vig, 33, also of Monmouth County. All four are accused of registering to vote despite not being U.S. citizens and falsely certifying their citizenship status on voter registration forms.

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the case on X, emphasizing that the administration will not tolerate noncitizens voting in federal elections. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche echoed this stance, stating that these individuals lied to both election officials and immigration authorities, violating federal law.

"This administration will not tolerate aliens who attempt to vote in our elections when they know they are not eligible," Blanche said. "The Justice Department will use every authority to protect the integrity of U.S. elections."

The defendants also allegedly lied under oath on naturalization applications by denying they had ever registered or voted in federal elections. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer stressed the importance of holding those who circumvent voting laws and the naturalization process accountable.

Charges include voting by an alien in a federal election, making false statements related to naturalization, and unlawful procurement of citizenship. The defendants have appeared before federal judges in Camden and Newark, New Jersey.

This case underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to police election integrity and crack down on illegal voting, a flashpoint in broader political debates about election security and immigration enforcement. While instances of noncitizen voting remain rare, prosecutions like these are used to justify stricter voting laws and heightened scrutiny of voter rolls.

We will continue to monitor developments in this case and what it signals about the Justice Department's priorities under the current administration. Protecting democracy requires vigilance against all forms of election fraud, but responses must be grounded in facts and proportional to the scale of the problem.