18 More Noncitizens Indicted for Illegal Voting Across North Carolina

The Justice Department announced Wednesday that 18 noncitizens, including at least one person in the country illegally, have been indicted on charges of illegally voting in North Carolina. The new charges bring the statewide total of people indicted this year for illegal voting to 30.

Of the latest defendants, nine were charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina, five in the Middle District, and four in the Western District, which includes Charlotte. The nine Eastern District cases add to 12 individuals previously indicted there, bringing that district’s total to 21.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said in a statement that the department is working to stop noncitizens from casting ballots in federal elections. “Illegal voting is just that: illegal. If you’re not an American citizen, you cannot vote in our federal elections,” McCotter said. “We want to prevent illegal voting from occurring, which is why we’ve now charged 30 people just in North Carolina who have violated our laws by illegally registering to vote and illegally voting. We need to preserve the integrity of the ballot box by ensuring only those eligible are casting ballots.”

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson pointed to how close recent local races have been. “In our most recent elections in North Carolina — the 2025 municipal elections — there were 14 races decided by 2 votes; 15 races decided by 1 vote; and 7 races that were tied. Every vote matters. And the public must have confidence that our elections are conducted fairly and that every ballot cast is a lawful one,” Ferguson said.

The Justice Department said it is sending additional election monitors to three North Carolina counties tied to the cases: Alamance, Wake and Mecklenburg.

Eastern District cases

U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle of the Eastern District of North Carolina said the nine new indictments there follow 10 announced earlier this month and two from earlier in the year. “Protecting the integrity of our elections is fundamental to preserving our constitutional republic,” Boyle said. “Indeed, the right to vote is the primary seed from which all other rights and liberties sprout. When noncitizens steal your vote, they can create an unamerican government that strips all liberty and freedom from citizens. Every unlawful ballot silences the voice of a lawful voter, striking at the core of our great nation. This is not a victimless crime; every citizen who casts a lawful vote is a victim. You do not know which citizen’s lawful vote that illegal vote cancelled out, so it cancels out every lawful vote. With these nine indictments, added to the 10 we announced earlier this month and two from earlier in the year, we make it crystal clear: we will not tolerate illegal voting in North Carolina. Let these 21 indictments serve as an unmistakable message ahead of the 2026 election: if you vote illegally, we are looking, we will find out, and we will prosecute you.”

The nine defendants charged in the Eastern District, all accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship to register and vote in the 2024 general election, are:

• Selvin Porfidio Gonzalez Escobar, 43, an illegal alien from Guatemala living in Robeson County, who registered to vote in 2020 and voted in the 2024 and 2020 general elections.
• Amerigo Di Nolfi, 53, a native of Italy and citizen of the United Kingdom now living in Massachusetts, who registered in 2024 and voted in the 2024 general election in New Hanover County.
• Elizabeth Margaret Crudup, 52, a native of Kenya living in Harnett County, who registered in 2008 and voted in nine general elections and nine primary elections between 2008 and 2026.
• Gregory Eugene Wade, 64, a native of Bermuda living in Wake County, who registered in 2000 and voted in 12 general elections and two primaries between 2000 and 2024.
• Jacqueline Yvonne Papandreou Brown, 63, a native of Singapore and UK citizen living in Duplin County, who registered in 2020 and voted in the 2024 general election.
• Karl Anthony Wilkins, 62, a native of Jamaica now living in Georgia, who registered in Wake County in 2018 and voted in the 2024, 2022 and 2020 general elections and the 2020 primary.
• Patricia Elena Valencia Cardona, 56, a native of Colombia living in Harnett County, who registered and voted in 2024.
• Richard John Reid, 62, a native of the United Kingdom living in New Hanover County, who registered in 2002 and voted in four general elections and two primaries.
• Taso Gretes, 58, a native of Greece and Canadian citizen living in New Hanover County, who registered in 2022 and voted in the 2024 general election.

Middle District cases

U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina, which includes Alamance County, said his office would continue pursuing such cases. “The right to vote is fundamental to American citizenship and a cornerstone of our republic,” Bishop said. “This office is committed to protecting the integrity of our elections and ensuring that laws enacted to ensure fairness and secure our rights are upheld. These charges serve notice that those who violate our election laws, including non-citizens who register and vote, will be investigated and prosecuted.”

Five people were charged in the Middle District in connection with the 2024 election:

• Adrianus Marinus Van Der Staak, a Netherlands national living in Seagrove.
• Saida Adali Hirachete Olivarez, a Mexican national living in Reidsville.
• Juan Florencio Ramos, a Cuban citizen living in Salisbury.
• Phillip Alexander Carter, a native of Barbados living in Winston-Salem.
• Yamila Avalos, an Argentinian national living in Concord, charged by information with voting by an alien.

Western District cases

Four people were indicted or charged by information in the Western District, which includes Charlotte:

• Michael Agah, 74, a Nigerian national living in Charlotte, accused of falsely claiming U.S. citizenship on an Authorization to Vote Form and voting on Nov. 5, 2024.
• Luis Alberto DeJesus, 50, a Dominican national living in Conover, accused of falsely claiming citizenship on an Early Voting Application and voting on Oct. 30, 2024.
• Serge Christian Dupont, 57, a French national living in Charlotte, accused of falsely claiming citizenship on an Authorization to Vote Form and voting on Nov. 5, 2024.
• Edread Ray Stanley, 63, a national of St. Kitts and Nevis living in Charlotte, charged by information with voting on Nov. 5, 2024, while knowing he was not a U.S. citizen.

Making a false claim of U.S. citizenship to vote carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If the person charged is a green card holder or in the country illegally, an additional penalty of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine can apply.