Three Liberians and one Ghanaian are among ten foreign nationals indicted on Thursday by a federal grand jury for allegedly voting during an election in Minnesota despite not being citizens of the United States.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, in a statement on Wednesday, said the defendants, who made their initial appearances in federal court earlier in the day, were accused of voter fraud, including making false claims of citizenship to vote and voting illegally as aliens.

The three Liberian nationals include 61-year-old Bhator Konah Bryant, 48-year-old Alan Barbu Kargbo and 43-year-old Chis Adam Pettiquoi, while the Ghanaian national is 63-year-old Joshua Frederick Kofi Edzie.

Other nationals include 59-year-old Lithuanian national Edvile Vaidoto Edmunds; 78-year-old German national Paul Kras; 58-year-old Bosnian national Fadil Rasim Ozegovic; 62-year-old Brazilian national Aparecido Donizetti Padovan; 47-year-old Canadian national Christian Liam Schenk; and 69-year-old South African national Hester Sophia Weihmann.

“The charge of false claim of citizenship in order to vote is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) and carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a maximum term of supervised release of three years, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Voting by aliens is a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611 and is a class A misdemeanor and carries a maximum term of imprisonment of one year, a maximum term of supervised release of one year, and a maximum fine of $100,000,” the statement explained.

Following the defendants’ appearance in court, Attorney General Todd Blanche said, “Today’s charges allege that ten foreign nationals committed voter fraud in Minnesota, one voting illegally as recently as this August’s primary. The law is clear, only American citizens may vote in American elections, and enforcing this law is fundamental to our democracy. That should not be a partisan concept.”

Meanwhile, the secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, stated, “Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: we will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation. Under President Trump’s leadership, this administration will never allow the votes of American citizens to be cancelled out by non-citizens illegally voting in our elections. Only American citizens should be electing American leaders.”

For his part, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said, “Voting in American elections is a privilege of American citizenship. Stealing that privilege is a crime. When, in order to obtain a ballot, a non-citizen swears he or she is a citizen, we will prosecute.”

Their cases were the result of the Homeland Security Investigations and are being prosecuted by the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Joseph Teirab.