The United States Department of Justice announced federal indictments on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, against ten foreign nationals residing in Minnesota. The defendants face voter fraud offenses, including illegally casting ballots and falsely claiming United States citizenship during recent election cycles.
Details of the Federal Indictments in Minnesota
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed indictments containing nine counts of voting by an alien and nine counts of making a false claim of citizenship to vote. This announcement marks the sixth major voter fraud enforcement action publicized by federal authorities during September 2026.
Attorney General Todd Blanche, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen detailed the charges during a joint news conference. Prosecutors allege the defendants participated illegally in the November 2022 and 2024 general elections, as well as the August 2026 state primary.
List of Defendants and Charges
All ten defendants are lawful permanent residents originating from various countries. The individuals named in the federal indictments include:
- Bhator Konah Bryant, 61, of Liberia: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote (October 18, 2024).
- Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59, of Lithuania: Charged with one count of voting by an alien (November 8, 2022).
- Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63, of Ghana: Charged with two counts of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien.
- Alan Barbu Kargbo, 48, of Liberia: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Paul Kras, 78, of Germany: Charged with one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Fadil Rasim Ozegovic, 58, of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Aparecido Donizetti Padovan, 62, of Brazil: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Chris Adam Pettiquoi, 43, of Liberia: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Christian Liam Schenk, 47, of Canada: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
- Hester Sophia Weihmann, 69, of South Africa: Charged with one count of making a false claim of citizenship and one count of voting by an alien (November 5, 2024).
Legal Penalties and Judicial Proceedings
Federal prosecutors outlined the potential legal consequences for the accused individuals under United States federal law:
- False Claim of Citizenship (18 U.S.C. § 1015(f)): Carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
- Voting by Aliens (18 U.S.C. § 611): Classified as a class A misdemeanor carrying a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, a one-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000.
Initial court appearances for most of the defendants took place before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elsa M. Bullard in Minnesota throughout late September 2026. Christian Liam Schenk appeared separately in the District of Massachusetts. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the inquiry, with First Assistant United States Attorney Joseph S. Teirab handling the prosecution. Authorities noted that an indictment contains allegations, and all defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Broader Enforcement Context and Reactions
During the announcement, Attorney General Blanche stated that the Justice Department has charged more than 90 individuals with voter-related fraud offenses since the beginning of 2025. This total includes 50 individuals charged within a five-week window prior to the announcement. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin reported that his agency is actively investigating over 1,600 alleged cases of voter fraud nationwide.
State election officials and legal experts offered alternative perspectives on the prevalence of noncitizen voting. The Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office noted that noncitizen voting remains extremely rare, pointing out that approximately 8.5 million votes were cast in the state across recent election cycles.
Additionally, the press conference included a DOJ announcement regarding a judicial misconduct complaint filed against federal judges in Minnesota who recently spoke to media outlets regarding immigration enforcement operations. State officials and legal scholars sharply debated the administrative and judicial implications of the complaint.
