Elections · Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Justice Department announces election-crime cases involving 12 people
The File desk · Sep 29, 2026, 10:17 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed (DOJ Office of Public Affairs, Sept. 28, 2026 — announcement of charges and pleas; charged defendants are presumed innocent)
On Sept. 28, 2026, the Justice Department announced charges and guilty pleas involving 12 people across several districts for illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and related offenses. The release says three of the defendants are illegal aliens. Among the cases: Damon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, a former U.S. Postal Service carrier, is charged with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail after allegedly throwing away mail that included about 300 mail-in ballots. Other cases span Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Hawaii, and Utah. A complaint, indictment, or information is only an accusation for defendants who have not pleaded guilty.
On Sept. 28, 2026, the Justice Department announced charges and guilty pleas involving 12 people.
The cases cover illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and related offenses.
The release says three of the defendants are illegal aliens.
The districts named are the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, the District of Kansas, the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Western District of Texas, the District of Hawaii, and the District of Utah.
Damon Matai Seei, 34, of Payson, Utah, a former Postal Service carrier, is charged with unlawful secretion, destruction, and delay of mail. The department says he threw away mail that included about 300 mail-in ballots.
Other offenses described in the release include voting by a noncitizen in a federal election, a false claim of U.S. citizenship in order to register or vote, and false statements on citizenship applications.
The release mixes new charges and guilty pleas. This desk could not tell, from the page alone, which of the twelve fall in each group.
A complaint, an indictment, or an information is only an accusation. Defendants who have not pleaded guilty are presumed innocent.
What is still unknown or disputed
- Individual docket numbers.
- Which of the twelve are new charges versus guilty pleas.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Justice Department Announces Charges and Guilty Pleas Involving 12 Individuals for Election Crimes
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs · September 28, 2026
charges and guilty pleas involving 12 individuals… alleged disposal of approximately 300 mail-in ballots by a former postal carrier.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-charges-and-guilty-pleas-involving-12-individuals-election