5 folks had been arrested Friday in connection to an investigation into the dealing with of absentee ballots through the 2023 mayoral election cycle in Bridgeport.
Inspectors from the Workplace of the Chief State’s Lawyer arrested Wanda Geter-Pataky, 68, Alredo Castillo, 53, Maria Pereira, 57, Jazmarie Melendez, 26, and Margaret Joyce, 45. All the suspect are from Bridgeport, besides from Joyce, who’s from Stratford.
Geter-Pataky is a former metropolis worker and the vice chair of the Bridgeport Democrats. Castillo and Pereira are stilling Bridgeport council members.
The allegations declare absentee ballots had been misused through the Democratic major for mayor in 2023 between incumbent Mayor Joe Ganim and his challenger, John Gomes. Ganim was declared the winner after the absentee poll votes put him forward of Gomes.
A choose ordered a brand new major after a video surfaced exhibiting Geter-Pataky placing a number of ballots into an absentee poll field within the metropolis.
Ganim gained the first re-do, and went on to win the final election.
On Friday, Geter-Pataky was charged with 42 counts of possession of ballots and envelopes restricted, two counts of fraudulent voting, 22 counts of misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll, 17 counts of being current when an absentee poll applicant executes an absentee poll, and 9 counts of conspiracy to commit possession of ballots and envelopes restricted.
Castillo was charged with 5 counts of misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll, 5 counts of being current when an absentee poll applicant executes an absentee poll, and eight counts of possession of ballots and envelopes restricted.
Castillo’s lawyer denied any wrongdoing by his shopper.
“I think at this early stage I can say they’re only related as to what happened during the 2023 Bridgeport mayoral cycle. If they’re claiming some sort of conspiracy, that they worked together, it’s too early to tell,” Frank Riccio II mentioned.
Periera was charged with 20 counts of misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll, 4 counts of being current when an absentee poll applicant executes an absentee poll, 5 counts of possession of ballots and envelopes restricted, second-degree forgery, and disorderly conduct.
Periera was defiant after her arrest on Friday.
“I’m gonna win. I’ve defeated the Bridgeport PD four times, zero convictions, and I’m going to win this too,” she mentioned.
Melendez was charged with six counts of misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll.
Joyce was charged with 4 counts of misrepresenting eligibility necessities for voting by absentee poll, 4 counts of possession of ballots and envelopes restricted, and fraudulent voting.
All had been launched on a promise to seem and are scheduled to seem in court docket on March 6.
