The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), also known as the Immigration Bureau, announced on Friday (September 25th) based on information released by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in New Jersey that a man from Essex County and a woman from Middlesex County have been charged with illegal voting in federal elections and making false statements in their applications for US citizenship.
According to the announcement, Patrick Terrance Reid, a 61-year-old man from Jamaica residing in Orange City, and Danubis Bernat, a 49-year-old woman from Venezuela living in South Amboy, are accused of voting in federal elections as non-US citizens and providing false statements during their applications for US citizenship.
Under US federal law, only US citizens are eligible to register and vote in federal elections. Reid and Bernat allegedly falsely claimed to be US citizens on voter registration forms despite not holding US citizenship.
Both defendants have reportedly participated in at least one federal election. Reid entered the US with an SA1 immigrant visa in the 1960s and 1970s, while Bernat arrived from Venezuela with a B-2 tourist visa. Reid personally voted in the presidential elections of November 2012 and November 2016, and voted through mail-in ballots in November 2020 and November 2024. Bernat cast a vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Following the illegal voting incidents, both individuals submitted applications for naturalization using Form N-400. The form requires applicants to swear that the information provided is complete, true, and accurate or face perjury charges. Reid and Bernat allegedly lied in their naturalization applications, claiming they had never registered to vote or participated in any federal elections.
The crime of voting as a foreign national carries a maximum penalty of 1 year in prison and a $100,000 fine, while making false statements during naturalization applications can lead to a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Robert Frazer, the US Attorney for New Jersey, commended the role played by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Immigration Bureau agents during the investigation.
The case was brought forth by the Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement agencies committed to upholding and safeguarding the fairness of elections in the New Jersey region.
It is important to note that the accusations and statements contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.