Resident of Philippines charged with illegal voting

A Marysville woman is being charged with voting illegally.

The Union County Grand Jury has indicted Jelanie Tumilap Neff, 36, of 1880 Welsh Place, charging her with one count of illegal voting, a fourth-degree felony.

Union County Prosecutor Dave Phillips said that Neff is a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States but is not a U.S. citizen.

“She is a citizen of the Philippines,” Phillips said in a text.

According to court documents, Neff allegedly voted in the Nov. 8, 2022 Marysville general election, a precinct that she was not a legal voter in.

Phillips said that the Ohio Secretary of State was the investigating party and that the case was referred to Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).

As part of the investigation, the Secretary of State’s Public Integrity Division used drivers’ licenses and identification cards to run a comparison of noncitizens with permanent resident status against the statewide voter registration list.

When that check revealed Neff’s name, the case was turned over to BCI.

Brandon Clay, Director of the Union County Board of Elections, said that Neff had marked on her registration form that she was a U.S. citizen and the federal systems helped to make the check.

“The system is working, I think that’s why there’s the need for the integrity division to do the research on that,” Clay said.

He said that the board of elections has no way of making those checks without access to federal databases.

Clay said that the board wasn’t aware of Neff’s indictment until it made rounds on social media.

Lawful permanent residents, also known as “green card” holders, are immigrants who are lawfully authorized to live permanently within the United States, according to the Office of Homeland Security.

“LPRs may accept an offer of employment without special restrictions, own property, receive financial assistance at public colleges and universities and join the Armed Forces,” according to Homeland Security. “They also may apply to become U.S. citizens if they meet certain eligibility requirements.”

The Nov. 8 election reported 43,578 registered voters and a total of 25,756 ballots cast in Union County, according to information from the Union County Board of Elections.

If convicted, Neff could see as many as 18 months in prison.

Also indicted were:

-Christian Eli Hill, 27, of Columbus. Hill is being charged with one count each of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle – with a specification for forfeiture of a weapon – and one count of operating a vehicle while under the influence (OVI).

According to court documents, on March 9, 2025, a Marysville police officer conducted a traffic stop on Hill’s motorcycle in the 100 block of North Main Street for a marked lanes violation. The officer identified Hill and allegedly “observed his speech to be slurred” as Hill tried to keep his head straight and not look at the officer.

Hill told the officer that he previously had a shot when asked if he had consumed any alcohol.

“I positioned myself to see (Hill’s) eyes (and) I observed his eyes to be red/bloodshot and glassy,” the officer reported.

Hill was wearing a motorcycle “cut” jacket, indicating that he was a part of the Tribe MC Ohio motorcycle club, according to court documents.

Knowing that the group members often carry firearms, the officer asked if Hill had a gun on him. Hill acknowledged that he did and the officer removed and secured the gun, which was concealed under Hill’s jacket and hoodie.

“I observed the firearm to be loaded with a round in the chamber,” the officer said.

Hill failed a sobriety test and was arrested. The results of his breath test showed Hill to allegedly have a BAC level equal to 0.153%, which is over the legal limit of 0.08%.

The gun, a Ruger handgun RXM, is under specification for forfeiture.

If convicted, Hill could face as many as 18 months in prison.

-Ali Mirshahi, 34, of Dublin. Mirshahi is being charged with one count each of breaking/entering and vandalism.

According to court documents, from March 6 to March 7, 2025, Mirshahi trespassed on the premises of Rise Business Park in Plain City with the purpose to commit a felony. On March 7, Mirshahi allegedly vandalized property belonging to the business.

If convicted, Mirshahi could face as many as two years in prison.

-Robert Donald McWhorter, 51, of Columbus. McWhorter is being charged with one count of theft.

According to court documents, on Feb. 24, 2025, McWhorter stole tools from Lucore Automotive Services in Plain City. The tools are allegedly valued between $1000 and $7,500.

If convicted, McWhorter could face as many as 12 months in prison.

-Michaela Alexandria Cordle, 33, of Columbus. Cordle is being charged with one count of possession of a fentanyl-related compound.

If convicted, Cordle could see as many as 12 months in prison.