Federal agents arrested a Slovakian citizen living in New Jersey after uncovering evidence that he illegally voted in a U.S. federal election and then tried to hide it to gain citizenship.
Marian Charitun, who resides in the U.S. as a permanent resident, was taken into custody on July 1 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The operation was a joint effort alongside the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
According to federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Charitun registered to vote by falsely claiming he was an American citizen. He then cast a ballot in the 2022 general election, which included races for the U.S. House of Representatives.
The issue came to light after Charitun later applied for naturalization. On his official citizenship paperwork, he explicitly stated that he had never registered to vote or cast a ballot in any local, state, or federal election.
Charitun now faces formal federal charges for both illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements on an official citizenship application.
“This alien from Slovakia illegally voted in American elections, and then lied about it when he tried to apply for citizenship,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “He now faces federal charges of illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements. Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Only Americans should be electing American leaders.”
The investigation was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a collaborative group of federal law enforcement agencies working in New Jersey. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Bleiberg of the Criminal Division is representing the government in the case.
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