DOJ election-integrity case: NJ man charged with noncitizen voting and false N-400 statements

Federal prosecutors in New Jersey announced July 2, 2026 criminal charges against Marian Charitun, alleging he was not a U.S. citizen when he voted in a federal election and later made false statements while applying for naturalization.

DOJ emphasized that the case is at the allegation stage: Charitun is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

What prosecutors allege happened

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Charitun—described as a resident alien of Middlesex County—certified on a New Jersey voter registration form that he was a U.S. citizen. After that registration was approved, prosecutors say he voted by mail in the November 8, 2022 midterm election, including a race for a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Prosecutors further allege that after voting in a federal election, Charitun submitted Form N-400 to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The criminal complaint says the N-400 asks applicants questions about whether they have ever registered to vote and/or voted in any federal, state, or local election, and includes a perjury certification.

DOJ says that on or about October 31, 2024, Charitun submitted an N-400 and checked the “No” box to the question about whether he had ever registered to vote or voted in any such election. The complaint also says that on or about April 9, 2025, Charitun was interviewed by a USCIS immigration services officer, placed under oath, and then admitted he had voted in the past.

The two federal counts and what they cover

Prosecutors charge two counts under federal law:

• 18 U.S.C. § 611: voting by an alien in a federal election (Count 1).
• 18 U.S.C. § 1425(a): unlawfully procuring citizenship or naturalization through false statements in the naturalization process (Count 2).

The DOJ press release says the maximum penalties associated with the counts are up to 1 year in prison for the voting-by-an-alien count and up to 10 years in prison for the false-statement naturalization count.

Why DOJ frames this as election integrity

DOJ presented the case as part of its broader election-integrity enforcement posture—linking election eligibility and voting conduct to alleged false sworn statements connected to the citizenship process. (This is a criminal case about alleged federal violations; it is not the same thing as a final USCIS decision.)

What’s next procedurally in federal court

The complaint was filed as part of the case 2:26-mj-10105-MAH, and DOJ said Charitun had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court.

From there, the next reader-relevant milestones will be additional court filings and scheduled hearings as the matter proceeds in the federal docket—because allegations are not findings.

Bottom line

This case puts a spotlight on what prosecutors allege are two related issues: voting eligibility and truthful sworn statements during naturalization. The practical “what to watch” is the case’s movement through federal court—rather than assumptions about immigration outcomes.

Sources

• Criminal complaint (USAO-NJ) — Marian Charitun, Case No. 2:26-mj-10105-MAH
• DOJ Civil Rights Division — Election Integrity enforcement actions (context/background)
• NJ Patch — local reporting referencing the case