Federal law enforcement authorities in New Jersey have arrested a green card holder from Slovakia, accusing him of illegally voting in a federal election and subsequently lying about the offense on his citizenship application. Marian Charitun, who resides in Union County, was taken into custody on July 1, according to statements released by the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The case highlights federal scrutiny over non-citizen voting and immigration document fraud. According to court documents outlined by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Charitun registered to vote in the state while falsely declaring that he held United States citizenship. He then cast a ballot in the 2022 general election, a cycle that featured contests for the U.S. House of Representatives. Investigators say the legal jeopardy deepened when Charitun later filed paperwork with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) seeking naturalization, during which he formally claimed he had never registered or voted in any federal, state, or local elections.
“This alien from Slovakia illegally voted in American elections, and then lied about it when he tried to apply for citizenship,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in a public statement published by the Department of Homeland Security. “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.”
Investigation and Legal Framework
The arrest was executed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Jersey field office. The operation involved close interagency cooperation alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and USCIS. Federal officials confirmed that the investigation was spearheaded through the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force—a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted within the District of New Jersey.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin D. Bleiberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division. Under federal law, non-citizens are prohibited from participating in federal elections. Registering to vote or casting a ballot while falsely claiming citizenship carries criminal penalties, as does providing fraudulent statements on federal immigration and naturalization documents.
Charges and Potential Penalties
| Charge / Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Defendant Name | Marian Charitun |
| Residency / Status | Union County, N.J. / Green Card Holder (Citizen of Slovakia) |
| Date of Arrest | July 1 |
| Primary Allegations | Illegally voting in the 2022 federal election and making false statements on a USCIS citizenship application |
| Prosecuting Body | U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey (Election Integrity Task Force) |
Charitun currently faces formal federal counts of illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship. Because the allegations involve both election law violations and immigration fraud, the legal consequences extend beyond potential prison time and criminal fines. Federal immigration authorities have emphasized that individuals convicted of such offenses face deportation proceedings.
Legal proceedings will continue in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, where the defendant is slated to face the formal indictment and subsequent court appearances coordinated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Please note that criminal charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is intended strictly for informational and news reporting purposes and does not constitute legal or professional advice. We welcome your thoughts and perspectives on this developing story—feel free to leave a comment or share this article below.
