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Sunday, October 18, 2026

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Justice Department · Sunday, October 18, 2026

Justice Department charges 16 people with illegal voting

The File desk · Oct 18, 2026, 11:30 AM UTC

Status

Confirmed as the Justice Department's Friday announcement. The charges are allegations. The release does not cite a statute section.
  • Confirmed
    The department said Friday it charged 16 noncitizens in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho.
  • Confirmed
    In eastern North Carolina, it says 10 people are charged with illegally voting in the 2024 elections.
  • Confirmed
    The release says a complaint, an indictment, and an information are accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent.
The Justice Department said Friday it has charged 16 noncitizens in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho in connection with illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship.1
In eastern North Carolina, the department says 10 people are charged with illegally voting in the 2024 elections. One of them, Eduardd Omar Majano Sosa, 22, is described as an illegal alien from El Salvador. He is charged with falsely claiming citizenship to vote and with . He registered in 2024 and voted that November.2
Others named there have been lawful permanent residents for years. Gjina Gojcaj McDonald registered in 2008. James Edward Herrmann registered in 2018. Karl Fout registered in 2008.3
The release also lists cases in the Northern District of New York and in the District of Idaho.
McDonald, the release says, voted in many elections from 2008 through 2024.

Notes

  1. 1.Justice Department, “Justice Department Announces Charges Involving 16 Aliens for Election Crimes,” updated Oct. 16, 2026. “Today, the Justice Department announced charges involving 16 aliens in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho, including an illegal alien, in connection with illegal voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and related election crimes.” The release ends: “A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-charges-involving-16-aliens-illegal-voting
  2. 2.Same release, Eastern District of North Carolina. “10 aliens have been charged for illegally voting in the 2024 elections.” Eduardd Omar Majano Sosa, 22, an illegal alien from El Salvador, one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of . Registered in 2024 and voted in the 2024 general election.
  3. 3.Same section. Gjina Gojcaj McDonald, 60, a national of the former Yugoslavia and a lawful permanent resident, registered in 2008 and voted in the general elections of 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2022, and 2024, plus a 2019 special election and the 2012 primary. James Edward Herrmann, 47, a German national and lawful permanent resident, registered in 2018 and voted in the 2024 and 2020 general elections. Karl Fout, 73, a German national and lawful permanent resident, registered in 2008 and voted in many general elections. The release also names defendants in the Northern District of New York and the District of Idaho. Charges are allegations; defendants are presumed innocent.

What is still unknown or disputed

Primary sources

Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.

  1. Source 1

    Justice Department announces charges involving 16 aliens for illegal voting

    U.S. Department of Justice · October 16, 2026

    Today, the Justice Department announced charges involving 16 aliens in North Carolina, New York, and Idaho, including an illegal alien, in connection with illegal voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship, and related election crimes.

    https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-charges-involving-16-aliens-illegal-voting