TOPEKA – A federal grand jury in Kansas has returned an indictment charging a Peruvian national with multiple criminal offenses arising from allegedly voting in a federal election despite not being a United States citizen, according to the United State's Attorney.
According to court documents, Mariana Alexandra Dewey, 24, of Wichita is charged with one count of false claim of citizenship, one count of false claim of United States citizenship in order to vote, one count of fraudulent election conduct, and one count of voting by an alien in a federal election.
In November 2024, Dewey allegedly falsely represented herself to be a U.S. citizen in order to register to vote in an election that included federal, state, and local offices. She is further accused of casting a ballot that included candidates for U.S. President, Vice President, Senate, and House of Representatives after falsely certifying that she was a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote.
“The Department of Justice remains committed to protecting election integrity and is actively investigating and prosecuting these cases,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “With another election looming, the Department’s effort serves as a stark reminder to individuals who are not legally authorized to vote not to engage in this conduct. Should individuals be determined by a court of law to have illegally claimed U.S. citizenship and voted or attempted to vote in federal elections, they will face serious criminal consequences.”
Dewey is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on Monday, September 14, 2026 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.