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

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OHIO – Federal prosecutors have charged a Gallia County woman with voting in a federal election even though she is not a U.S. citizen.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said Tuesday that a criminal complaint charges Cary Ann Patterson, 59, a citizen of the United Kingdom with lawful permanent resident status, with illegally voting in a federal election as an alien. The complaint alleges she voted on Nov. 5, 2024. Voters in federal elections must be U.S. citizens.

According to court documents described in the release, the Gallia County Board of Elections received a voter registration card for Patterson in 2005. “Yes” was marked in response to the question, “Are you a U.S. citizen?” Board records, prosecutors said, show she voted in at least 10 elections as a noncitizen.

The charge is punishable by up to 12 months in prison. U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced it with David M. Toepfer, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio. Homeland Security Investigations Detroit worked the case. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the government in the Southern District case.

A criminal complaint is an allegation. Patterson has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.

Two related cases were filed the same day in northern Ohio. Arshed Zuberi, 69, a Pakistani national and lawful permanent resident, is charged with illegally voting in a federal election. Prosecutors say he registered in Cuyahoga County in September 2015 and August 2016, and that his signature appears next to the declaration that he is a U.S. citizen. Voting records show he voted in at least six elections, the office said.

Eliza M. Moss, 63, a citizen of the Philippines and a lawful permanent resident, is charged in Ashtabula County. Prosecutors say she registered in September 2004 and February 2023, and voted in several primary and general elections. According to the complaint, Moss told investigators that the person who helped fill out her registration told her she could vote despite not being a citizen.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose said on X that the cases followed work between his office and federal investigators on Ohio’s voter rolls and the state’s citizenship requirement. “A single case of voter fraud can spoil the outcome of an entire election, and it will not be tolerated on my watch,” he wrote.

The Gallia County Board of Elections is at 18 Locust Street in Gallipolis. Early voting for the current election began Tuesday.

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