By Nelson King
WASHINGTON, Nov 2, CMC – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Tuesday announced the indictment of several Caribbean nationals among 18 immigrants in North Carolina for illegal voting in the 2024 general elections.
The DOJ said nine were charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina, five in the Middle District of North Carolina, and four were charged in the Western District of North Carolina.
These indictments are in addition to 12 individuals who were previously indicted in the Eastern District of North Carolina for illegally voting, bringing the statewide total to 30 indicted this year, the DOJ said.
Among the Caribbean nationals charged in the latest indictment are nationals from Bermuda, Jamaica, Cuba, Barbados, Dominican Republic, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
The other nationalities are Guatemala, Italy, Kenya, Singapore, Colombia, United Kingdom, Greece, the Netherlands, Argentina, Mexico, France and Nigeria.
“Illegal voting is just that: illegal,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter. “If you’re not an American citizen, you cannot vote in our federal elections.
“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.”
US Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina said that “protecting the integrity of our elections is fundamental to preserving our constitutional republic.
“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 natio. 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,” Boyle added.
US Attorney Dan Bishop for the Middle District of North Carolina said “the right to vote is fundamental to American citizenship and a cornerstone of our republic.
“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.”
US Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina said that, in the most recent elections in North Carolina — the 2025 municipal elections — there were 14 races decided by two votes; 15 races decided by one 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.”
In the Eastern District of North Carolina, the DOJ said Gregory Eugene Wade, 64, a native of Bermuda and a lawful permanent resident residing in Wake County, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
The DOJ said Wade registered to vote in 2000 and voted in 12 general elections in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2004, 2002, and 2000, as well as the 2020 and 2002 primary elections.
The DOJ said Karl Anthony Wilkins, 62, a native of Jamaica and a lawful permanent resident now residing in Fulton County, Georgia, is charged with one count of falsely claiming citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
He registered to vote in 2018 and voted in the 2024, 2022, and 2020 General Elections, as well as the 2020 primary election in Wake County, North Carolina, the DOJ said.
In the Middle District of North Carolina, the DOJ said Juan Florencio Ramos, a citizen of Cuba and lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Salisbury, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of US citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
The DOJ also said Phillip Alexander Carter, a native of Barbados and a lawful permanent resident of the United States living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is charged by indictment with one count of knowingly making a false statement or claim of US citizenship to vote and one count of voting by an alien.
In the Western District of North Carolina, the DOJ said Luis Alberto DeJesus, 50, a Dominican Republic national and lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Conover, North Carolina, is charged with voting by an alien in a federal election and making a false claim to US citizenship to vote.
“It is alleged that DeJesus falsely stated on an Early Voting Application that he was a US citizen and thereafter voted on Oct. 30, 2024, knowing that he was not a US citizen and was not legally permitted to cast a ballot,” the DOJ said.
It said Edread Ray Stanley, 63, a national of St. Kitts and Nevis and a lawful permanent resident of the United States residing in Charlotte, is charged with voting by an alien.
“It is alleged that Stanley, knowing that he was not a US citizen, knowingly voted on Nov. 5, 2024, in a federal election.
The DOJ said the charges of falsely stating or claiming US citizenship to vote carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a US$250,000 fine.
Voting by an alien carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a US$100,000 fine.
The charges Americans prepare to vote in the mid-term elections on Tuesday.
CMC/nk/ir/2026