4 people arrested after investigation into absentee ballots in 2019 Bridgeport mayoral primary: official – NBC Connecticut

Four campaign workers who participated in Bridgeport's 2019 Democratic mayoral primary are accused of misusing mail-in ballots and have been indicted, according to the state's top prosecutor.

Chief State's Attorney Patrick J. Griffin said: Alfredo Castillo, 52; Wanda Geter-Pataky, 67; Nilsa Heredia, 61; and Josephine Edmonds, 62, all of Bridgeport, were charged with illegal possession of absentee ballots and other election-related charges.

The arrests followed allegations of mishandling of mail-in ballots during the September 2019 Democratic primary election for Bridgeport mayor and an investigation by the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Geter-Pataky is accused of failing to sign as an assistant on an absentee ballot application she filled out on behalf of a prospective voter and misrepresenting the eligibility requirements for absentee voting when she told a citizen not to vote in person and would collect the citizen's absentee ballot. The citizen later told SEEC investigators that the defendant told her not to tell anyone about the matter, according to the state attorney general's office.

They said court records show Heredia asked potential voters which candidate to select on their absentee ballots and misrepresented the eligibility requirements for absentee voting and that the defendant admitted to SEEC investigators that she had not submitted an absentee ballot distribution list to the city of Bridgeport. Clerk's Office.

A press release from the state's chief prosecutor then cites the arrest warrant and states that Castillo is accused of failing to maintain an absentee ballot distribution list, misrepresenting eligibility requirements to vote by mail and not having signed as an assistant on a request for a mail ballot. in August 2019. According to a deposition with SEEC on October 21, 2021, Castillo denied helping the potential voter complete the application, but later admitted that he had completed portions of the application.

The arrest warrant affidavit also states that Edmonds is accused of being present when four would-be voters completed their absentee ballots and took possession of them when she left their home. She is also accused of failing to maintain a mail-in ballot distribution list and of tampering with a witness for telling her not to testify truthfully in court that the defendant had gone to her and left with the absentee ballots.

Edmonds, Geter-Pataky and Heredia were also charged with tampering with a witness, and Geter-Pataky, Castillo and Heredia were charged with misrepresentation of absentee ballot eligibility requirements.

Castillo, Edmonds and Heredia were accused of failing to maintain a mail-in ballot distribution list.

Edmonds and Heredia were accused of being present when an absentee ballot candidate executed an absentee ballot and Geter-Pataky and Castillo were accused of failing to sign as an assistant on an absentee ballot .

All four were released on a promise to appear in court and are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 24.

“We have only learned through the media that individuals who participated in the two 2019 mayoral primary campaigns have been charged with election violations. We have not received any details other than what is contained in the media,” Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said in a statement.

Ganim released an additional statement Tuesday afternoon:

“Whether it’s accused people from the Moore campaign or my campaign, any impropriety is unacceptable. We all agree that the integrity of the electoral process is vital to our democracy,” Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim said in a statement.

“Accusations that call into question integrity are concerning. I always stand for upholding voter rights and fair elections. These matters relating to both 2019 campaigns are now before the courts and will be addressed through the justice system.”