Two Aliens Charged in New Jersey With Illegal Voting and False Statements on N-400

USCIS assisted an investigation that led to charges against a Jamaican national and a Venezuelan national living in New Jersey, accused of voting in federal elections while not U.S. citizens and lying about it on their naturalization applications. Both allegedly certified falsely on voter registration forms that they were citizens and later denied voting history on Form N-400.

Key points

• Patrick Terrance Reid, 61, and Danubis Bernat, 49, were each charged by separate complaints in the District of New Jersey.
• Neither was a U.S. citizen at the time they registered to vote or cast ballots in federal elections.
• Reid voted in the 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections; Bernat voted in the 2024 general election.
• Both later filed Form N-400 and falsely claimed they had never registered to vote or voted in federal elections.
• Illegal voting by an alien carries up to 1 year in prison and a $100,000 fine; false statements on a naturalization application carry up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
• The charges are accusations only, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Who is affected

Noncitizens who vote in federal elections or make false statements on naturalization applications, and anyone involved in USCIS naturalization or voter fraud investigations.

What to do