A federal grand jury in Minneapolis has indicted 10 people on voter fraud charges over allegations they falsely claimed American citizenship to cast ballots in recent elections.

The defendants range in age from 43 to 78. They include three people from Europe, five from Africa, a Brazilian man and a Canadian man. All are legal permanent U.S. residents.

Federal prosecutors allege seven of them voted illegally in the 2024 presidential election. The oldest allegations involve a Lithuanian woman accused of voting in 2022. The most recent date to August, when a Ghanaian man allegedly cast a ballot in Minnesota's primary.

U.S. Attorney Dan Rosen announced the charges in Washington on Wednesday alongside U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

"If you're not a citizen, don't try to vote,” Rosen said. We will prosecute you. And if you’re convicted, you’ll face jail time and any other consequences to your immigration status that the law may provide for."

The defendants were released after making their initial court appearances at separate hearings on Wednesday. Most face felony counts, but two are charged solely with misdemeanors.

Investigators with the Department of Homeland Security say that nine of the 10 defendants cast ballots. A 61-year-old Liberian woman is charged with registering to vote as a non-citizen, but the Justice Department does not allege that she voted.

Six of the 10 have entered not guilty pleas.

Collected from Minnesota Public Radio News. View original source here.