A Slovakian national living in New Jersey has been charged with illegally voting in a federal election and making false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

Marian Charitun, 62, of Middlesex County, is charged by criminal complaint with voting by an alien in a federal election and unlawfully procuring citizenship or naturalization.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Charitun was not a U.S. citizen when he registered to vote in New Jersey but falsely certified on his voter registration form that he was a citizen. Prosecutors allege he then voted in the Nov. 8, 2022, federal midterm election, which included the election of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Authorities also say that after voting, Charitun applied for U.S. citizenship and falsely stated on his naturalization application that he had never registered to vote or voted in a federal election.

If convicted, the charge of voting by an alien in a federal election carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. The unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.