Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced six individuals have been indicted for illegal voting in past elections.

“The right to vote is sacred, the exercise of authority by the sovereign people. It belongs *only* to citizens. Offenses are rare—but WILL be prosecuted,” Yost said.

“If you’re not a U.S. citizen, it’s illegal to vote – whether you thought you were allowed to or not – you will be held accountable,” he added.

“Illegal voting is a fourth-degree felony,” a news release from Yost’s office read.

“Irregularities like this are rare, and this is a small number of cases,” Yost said.

“We should all be confident in the upcoming election, knowing that the laws are being enforced and will continue to be enforced,” he added.

Per Yost’s office:

Special prosecutors with Yost’s office presented seven cases to grand juries last week:

  • Ramesh Patel, 68, of North Royalton, was indicted in Cuyahoga County on one count of illegal voting. Patel lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2014, 2016 and 2018. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 1.
  • Lorinda Miller, 78, of Hudson, was indicted in Summit County on two counts of illegal voting. Miller is a legal permanent resident but lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
  • Nicholas Fontaine, 32, of Kent, was indicted in Portage County on one count of illegal voting. Fontaine is a legal permanent resident but lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2016 and 2018. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. on Dec. 2.
  • Ahmed Aden, 35, of Columbus, was indicted in Franklin County on one count of illegal voting. Aden is a legal permanent resident but lacked U.S. citizenship when he allegedly voted in 2008 and 2020.
  • Van Thuy Cooper, 53, of Hilliard, was indicted in Franklin County on one count of illegal voting. Cooper is a legal permanent resident but lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016 and 2020.
  • Maria Dearaujo, 62, of Columbus, was indicted in Franklin County on one count of illegal voting. Dearaujo is a lawful resident but lacked U.S. citizenship when she allegedly voted in 2016 and 2018.

“A seventh case was presented to a Lorain County grand jury, which issued a ‘no-bill’ indictment, declining to charge the individual. The uncharged subject, an Oberlin college student, was alleged to have voted in Ohio and Washington in 2018,” the release added.

Dayton Daily News reports:

Six people were indicted for allegedly voting in Ohio elections when they were not U.S. citizens, according to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

Yost’s office handled the cases, which are among 138 total allegations of people who improperly voted that his office is investigating at the request of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Yost said the six people indicted were not U.S. citizens when they allegedly voted in Ohio state or federal elections between 2008 and 2020, according to a news release from Yost’s office. They were indicted for illegal voting, a fourth-degree felony. Three are from Franklin County and the others are from Cuyahoga, Summit and Portage counties. Their cases were heard by grand juries in those counties.

All were indicted last week or this week on a single count of illegal voting, except for one who was indicted on two counts, according to Yost’s office. Illegal voting can carry a maximum sentence of 18 months in prison and five years post-release control. Those indicted are awaiting arraignment and so have not issued pleas.

 

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