Two Jamaicans and a Haitian are among 16 immigrants charged in the U.S. They face illegal voting allegations.
Two Jamaican men and a Haitian man are among 16 immigrants charged in the United States with election-related offenses, including illegally voting in federal elections and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship, the Department of Justice announced Friday.
The charges involve immigrants in North Carolina, New York and Idaho, including lawful permanent residents and one undocumented immigrant. The other defendants are nationals of El Salvador, Bosnia, Germany, Panama, Britain and Canada, among other countries.
Jamaican Lawton Caswell McKenzie, 46, a lawful permanent resident, is charged with falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and voting illegally. Prosecutors allege he registered to vote in 2007 and 2012 and cast ballots in the 2012, 2020 and 2024 general elections. Mervin Sylvester Bogle, 60, also a Jamaican lawful permanent resident, is charged with falsely claiming citizenship to vote. The Justice Department says he registered in 2024 and completed a ballot in that year’s general election. He is also accused of voting in 2008 and 2012. Haitian national Lionel Paul, 62, a lawful permanent resident, is charged with falsely claiming citizenship and voting illegally after allegedly registering and casting a ballot in the 2024 general election. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent.
In a separate case, U.S. immigration authorities announced a charge against Bahamian national Terrance Patrick Evans, 37, a lawful permanent resident living in Ocala, Florida. He is accused of voting in the 2024 federal election while knowing he was not a U.S. citizen. The charge followed an investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations, Florida election authorities and the Citrus County Supervisor of Elections. If convicted, Evans faces a maximum sentence of one year in federal prison. The announcements come ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Federal authorities say prosecutions of alleged illegal voting are aimed at protecting election integrity.
Information for this report was provided by the Caribbean Media Corporation through the Jamaica Observer and the Jamaica Gleaner, citing the U.S. Department of Justice.