Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, recently announced that six non-citizens have been indicted for allegedly illegally voting in past elections, including during presidential contests. Special prosecutors in Yost's office presented seven cases to county grand juries, resulting in six indictments. One case involving an Oberlin College student was presented to a Lorain County grand jury, which declined to charge the individual.
One of the indicted individuals, 68-year-old Ramesh Patel of North Royalton, allegedly voted in 2014, 2016, and 2018 elections despite lacking U.S. citizenship. Patel was indicted in Cuyahoga County on one count of illegal voting, a fourth-degree felony. However, it was later revealed that Patel had passed away in December 2022.
Among the other cases, Lorinda Miller, 78, of Hudson, was indicted in Summit County on two counts of illegal voting. Miller, a legal permanent resident, allegedly voted in multiple elections without U.S. citizenship. Nicholas Fontaine, 32, of Kent, was indicted in Portage County on one count of illegal voting for similar reasons.
Three individuals were indicted in Franklin County: Ahmed Aden, 35, of Columbus; Van Thuy Cooper, 53, of Hilliard; and Maria Dearaujo, 62, of Columbus. All three were legal permanent or lawful residents who lacked U.S. citizenship when they allegedly voted in various elections.
Yost emphasized the sanctity of the right to vote, stating that voting illegally, even unintentionally, carries consequences. He reassured the public that such irregularities are rare and that the enforcement of voting laws will continue to ensure the integrity of elections. Yost's office is committed to upholding the law and holding individuals accountable for illegal voting.
