The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday announced federal charges against five individuals for allegedly voting or aiding illegal voting in the 2022 and 2024 elections across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin. The cases involve three noncitizens and two U.S. citizens, according to a DOJ press release.
Federal prosecutors allege illegal voting and registration fraud in multiple states. In Pennsylvania, 68-year-old Thomas Holtzman and his wife, 50-year-old Marisol Guzman, were indicted. Guzman, a noncitizen, is accused of voting in the 2024 election, while Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, faces charges for allegedly aiding and abetting her fraudulent registration and vote. 30-year-old Katya Rodriguez, a Mexican national residing in Harrisburg, was separately indicted for making false statements of citizenship, fraudulent registration, and voting as an illegal immigrant in 2024.
In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso, a lawful permanent resident from Ecuador, was charged with voting in person during the June 2024 primary election. In Wisconsin, Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, a 25-year-old originally from Mexico, faces allegations of voting as a noncitizen in the 2022 election.
Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the DOJ’s commitment to election integrity, stating in a press release: “The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American. It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.”
Federal authorities also released video footage showing the arrest of Katya Rodriguez in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where she was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations agents. The video depicts Rodriguez in pajamas before agents allow her to change clothing and place her in handcuffs.
Charges and Allegations by State:
- Pennsylvania: Holtzman (aiding and abetting fraudulent registration), Guzman (voting as a noncitizen), Rodriguez (false citizenship statement, fraudulent registration, voting as a noncitizen).
- New Jersey: Cardoso (voting as a lawful permanent resident).
- Wisconsin: Jurado Garcia (voting as a noncitizen).
The DOJ did not provide immediate access to charging documents, and the cases are pending in federal court. The allegations remain unproven as the defendants have not entered pleas. The charges follow a broader federal effort to address election integrity concerns, with officials stating that such cases underscore the need for vigilance against fraudulent voting practices.