Three Defendants Charged with Offenses for Voting as Non-Citizens

BROOKLYN, NY - Three defendants were presented in federal court in Brooklyn this week following charges of various offenses related to illegal voting in federal elections. Eoin Cranney, a citizen of Ireland and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by indictment with making a false claim of citizenship in order to vote and voting by an alien in a federal election. Ronald Sheldon Baird, a citizen of Guyana and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by misdemeanor complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election. Karlene Daniels Samuels, a citizen of Jamaica and a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was charged by misdemeanor complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election. Cranney was arraigned on October 20, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho. Baird and Samuels were presented on October 22, 2026, before Judge Cho.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), announced the charges.

"It is illegal for non-citizens to knowingly vote in federal elections," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "Our Office will prosecute those who illegally vote in order to preserve the integrity of our electoral process."

As alleged in the indictment against him, Cranney, who was not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the Board of Elections in the City of New York (the "NYC BOE") in which he falsely asserted that he was a United States citizen. Cranney then voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024. In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Cranney admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a United States citizen, that he had registered to vote in 2024, and that he had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a United States citizen.

As alleged in the complaint against him, Baird, who is not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the NYC BOE, in which he falsely asserted that he was a United States citizen. Baird voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024. In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Baird admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a United States citizen and that he had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a United States citizen.

As alleged in the complaint against her, Samuels, who is not a citizen of the United States, submitted a fraudulent voter registration application to the NYC BOE, in which she falsely asserted that she was a United States citizen. Baird voted in the federal general election held on November 5, 2024. In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Baird admitted, in substance and in part, that she was not a United States citizen and that she had voted in the November 5, 2024 federal general election knowing that she was not a United States citizen.

The charges in the indictment and complaints are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Cranney faces a maximum sentence of up to six years in prison, and Baird and Samuels face a sentence of up to one year in prison.

The Defendants:

EOIN CRANNEY
Age: 35
Oakland Gardens, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-293 (NGG)

RONALD SHELDON BAIRD
Age: 47
Laurelton, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-MJ-191

KARLENE DANIELS SAMUELS
Age: 55
Saint Albans, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-MJ-192