10 Foreign Nationals Indicted in Minnesota Over Alleged Voter Fraud; DOJ Issues Warning

The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury returned separate indictments on Sept. 24 charging 10 lawful permanent residents in Minnesota with allegedly casting illegal ballots in recent federal elections while falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.

Details of the Indictments

According to statements from Attorney General Todd Blanche, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen, the defendants are accused of participating in unlawful voting in the November 2022 and November 2024 general elections and the August 2026 primary.

All 10 defendants are alleged to be lawful permanent residents from countries including Liberia, Lithuania, Ghana, Brazil, Bosnia, Germany, Canada and South Africa. The charges fall into two categories:

• Making False Claims of Citizenship to Vote: Each count carries a statutory maximum penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release.
• Voting By An Alien: Charged as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $100,000.

Named Defendants And Allegations

Prosecutors named several defendants and described specific alleged acts:

• Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie, 63 (Ghana) — Allegedly voted in Minnesota on Aug. 11 and is accused of making false claims of citizenship on two separate occasions.
• Christian Liam Schenk, 47 (Canada) — Accused of illegally voting in November 2024 and of making a false citizenship claim.
• Bhator Konah Bryant, 61 (Liberia) — Charged with a single count of falsely claiming citizenship when registering to vote in October 2024.
• Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds, 59 (Lithuania) — Charged with voting by an alien for an alleged ballot cast in November 2022.
• Other defendants are accused of either falsely claiming citizenship during voter registration in October 2024 (days before that year’s general election) or of casting ballots in November 2024 without additional alleged citizenship claims at the time of voting.

"The law is clear: only American citizens may vote in American elections, and enforcing this law is fundamental to our democracy," Attorney General Todd Blanche said. He added a pointed warning to noncitizens: "We will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation."

Investigation And Proceedings

Homeland Security Investigations led the probe. Prosecution is being handled by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph S. Teirab. All defendants have made their initial appearances in federal court; the cases will proceed through the federal criminal process.

This matter underscores federal enforcement priorities around the integrity of voter rolls and eligibility. Those charged face potential criminal penalties and, if convicted, possible deportation as described by federal officials.

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