Federal authorities have charged 18 additional noncitizens with voting unlawfully in North Carolina’s 2024 election, expanding a statewide prosecution effort to 30 defendants this year. An October 29 Breitbart News article highlighted the cases, which span all three federal judicial districts. The charges remain allegations, and every defendant retains the presumption of innocence.
The Justice Department identified most defendants as lawful permanent residents. One, Guatemalan national Selvin Porfidio Gonzalez Escobar, allegedly lacked lawful immigration status. Permanent residency does not confer citizenship or eligibility to vote in federal elections.
“Illegal voting is just that: illegal,” Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter said. “If you’re not an American citizen, you cannot vote in our federal elections.”
Two cases involve particularly extensive voting histories. Elizabeth Margaret Crudup, 52, a Kenyan native and permanent resident, allegedly registered in 2008 and participated in nine general elections through 2024, plus nine primaries extending through 2026. Gregory Eugene Wade, 64, a Bermudian native and permanent resident, allegedly registered in 2000 and voted in 12 general elections and two primaries. Those histories do not mean prosecutors filed a separate charge for every alleged ballot.
The other Eastern District defendants are Gonzalez Escobar, Amerigo Di Nolfi, Jacqueline Yvonne Papandreou Brown, Karl Anthony Wilkins, Patricia Elena Valencia Cardona, Richard John Reid, and Taso Gretes. Prosecutors accuse each of unlawful voting and falsely claiming American citizenship to vote.
In the Middle District, authorities charged Adrianus Marinus Van Der Staak, Saida Adali Hirachete Olivarez, Juan Florencio Ramos, and Phillip Alexander Carter with both offenses. Yamila Avalos faces an unlawful voting charge.
Western District cases name Michael Agah, Luis Alberto DeJesus, and Serge Christian Dupont on both counts, while Edread Ray Stanley faces an unlawful voting charge. Prosecutors allege that several defendants falsely asserted citizenship on voting forms before casting ballots.
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson cited close municipal contests in 2025, including 14 decided by two votes, 15 by one vote, and seven ties.
“Every vote matters. And the public must have confidence that our elections are conducted fairly and that every ballot cast is a lawful one.” The announcement does not allege that these defendants determined those municipal outcomes or changed the 2024 result.
False citizenship claims carry maximum penalties of five years and $250,000. Unlawful voting carries up to one year and a $100,000 fine.
These prosecutions are a welcome assertion of election integrity. But this fight does not stop here. Nationalist populists must continue pressing separately for an immigration moratorium, mandatory employment verification, narrower family sponsorship, and constitutionally valid changes to birthright citizenship.
Stricter and more comprehensive measures are an absolute must at this point.
