Hudson County Woman Charged With Voting in Federal Elections as a Noncitizen

NEWARK — A Hudson County woman was charged in a federal criminal complaint with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Charges are allegations.

According to the complaint, Sanata Coulibaly, 64, of Hudson County, was not a U.S. citizen when she registered to vote on a paper application at the Office of the Hudson County Superintendent of Elections. On that form, the complaint says, she certified that she was a United States citizen. Federal law requires U.S. citizenship to register and to vote in federal elections.

Ballots alleged in four elections

The complaint alleges Coulibaly cast ballots in the November 2018 midterm election, the July 2020 primary, the November 2020 general election, and the 2024 general election. Each of those elections included candidates for federal office.

At the time she voted, the complaint says, Coulibaly had entered the United States from Senegal on a B-1 visa and was not a U.S. citizen, so she was not authorized to vote in federal elections.

Citizenship application

After the 2018 and 2020 votes alleged in the complaint, Coulibaly applied in October 2024 to become a U.S. citizen on Form N-400. An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information is complete, true, and correct. On that application, the complaint alleges, she claimed she had never registered to vote or voted in any federal election.

Charges and court appearance

Coulibaly was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, 18 U.S.C. § 611, and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship, 18 U.S.C. § 1425(a).

She had her initial appearance on Sept. 17, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court.

If convicted of making false statements on a citizenship application, she faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. If convicted of voting by a noncitizen in a federal election, she faces a maximum of one year in prison. Those are statutory maximums. She has not been convicted.

Who investigated

Frazer credited FBI special agents under Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; Homeland Security Investigations under Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The case was brought under the U.S. Attorney’s Election Integrity Task Force in the District of New Jersey. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael K. O’Leary of the Special Prosecutions Division is handling the prosecution.

The charges and allegations in the complaint are accusations. Coulibaly is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey.