Election Integrity Crackdown: Middlesex County Man Charged with Illegal Voting and Citizenship Fraud
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, A federal investigation has led to the arrest of a Middlesex County man accused of illegally casting a ballot in a federal election and lying to immigration authorities on his citizenship application.
U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced the criminal complaint against Marian Charitun, 62, a resident alien originally from Slovakia. The case underscores a growing multi-agency focus on maintaining the strict legal boundaries of the American voting booth.
Here is a breakdown of how federal investigators uncovered the alleged voter fraud, the timeline of the offenses, and the steep legal penalties the defendant now faces.
🗳️ The Timeline of the Alleged Voter Fraud
According to federal court documents filed in Newark, United States citizenship is a strict prerequisite for registering to vote or casting a ballot in any federal election. The criminal complaint outlines a multi-step violation of these regulations:
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The Voter Registration: Investigators state that Charitun, despite not holding U.S. citizenship, filled out a New Jersey voter registration form and explicitly certified under penalty of law that he was a citizen.
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The November 2022 Midterm Ballot: After his registration was approved, Charitun allegedly went on to cast an illegal vote in the November 8, 2022, midterm election, which included voting for a member of the United States House of Representatives.
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The Citizenship Application Paper Trail: Following the election, Charitun submitted an N-400 Application for Naturalization to officially become a citizen. On this federal document, which requires an oath under penalty of perjury, he allegedly checked boxes claiming he had never registered to vote or participated in a federal election.
⚖️ The Charges and Potential Prison Sentences
Charitun had his initial court appearance in Newark federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer. He faces two distinct federal counts, which carry a combined maximum exposure of up to 11 years in prison:
| Charge | Statutory Violation | Maximum Prison Penalty |
| Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election | 18 U.S.C. § 611 | Up to 1 Year |
| Unlawful Procurement of Citizenship or Naturalization | 18 U.S.C. § 1425(a) | Up to 10 Years |
🛡️ Inside the Election Integrity Task Force
The arrest was executed through a coordinated federal effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force. This coalition focuses specifically on preserving and protecting public trust in the voting infrastructure throughout the District of New Jersey.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited three major agencies with leading the investigation:
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy.
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Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas.
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Bleiberg of the Criminal Division in Newark is representing the government.
Legal Disclaimer: The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Tags: Middlesex County, New Jersey News, Voter Fraud, Federal Charges, Election Integrity, FBI Investigation, Immigration Law
