Brian Lockhart of the CT Post reports “A Superior Court judge Tuesday signed a warrant for the arrest of state Rep. Christina Ayala D-Bridgeport, according to a law enforcement source.”
The warrant was sought by the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and comes almost a year after the state Elections Enforcement Commission recommended Ayala and her mother, Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala, be criminally prosecuted for elections fraud.
The source said that Christina Ayala, 31, who was elected in 2012 but lost her primary this summer, is being charged with voting fraud violations and with tampering or fabricating physical evidence.
Full story here.
Ayala lost a Democratic primary in August to Chris Rosario, the city’s anti-blight director, for the 128th State House seat that covers the East Side and Hollow neighborhoods. She finished a disappointing third behind attorney and city Fire Commissioner Dennis Bradley. She will leave office at the end of this year after serving just one two-year term.
Claiming Ayala and her mother Democratic Registrar of Voters Sandi Ayala engaged in a conspiracy to commit voter fraud, the State Elections Enforcement Commission last October voted to refer its investigative findings to the chief state’s attorney for possible criminal prosecution. Some of the commission charges alleged are felonies. No word yet if Sandi Ayala will face charges.
According to a report issued to the commission by SEEC investigating attorney Kevin Ahern: “There is evidence that she ran for elected office twice from this false address during the period, including for the office she currently holds. There is evidence that she also applied for funds from the Citizens’ Election Program using this false address. Additionally, the investigation revealed evidence that Representative Ayala fabricated evidence in response to this investigation, with the intent of misleading Commission staff. The investigation also revealed evidence that Bridgeport Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala, Representative Ayala’s mother, knew of and may have cooperated in Representative Ayala’s fraudulent activity.”
The commission asked the chief state’s attorney to investigate Christina Ayala and Sandi Ayala.
Full statement from Ahern:
Statement of Attorney Kevin Ahern to the Commission, October 16, 2013
On December 19, 2012, the Commission voted to initiate an investigation into whether State Representative Christina Ayala of Bridgeport had been impermissibly registered to vote and had voted at 604 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, an address at which she was not a bona fide resident. Additionally, the Commission voted to initiate an investigation into whether Santa Ayala, the Bridgeport Democratic Registrar of Voters, had knowledge of Christina Ayala’s improper registration and may have conspired with Representative Ayala to commit a fraud. The investigation revealed evidence that Representative Ayala falsely registered to vote at the address in Bridgeport in July 2009 and remained registered at this address until January 2013, after the initiation of this investigation. There is evidence that Representative Ayala voted in nine different primaries and elections from this false address during the period. There is evidence that she ran for elected office twice from this false address during the period, including for the office she currently holds. There is evidence that she also applied for funds from the Citizens’ Election Program using this false address. Additionally, the investigation revealed evidence that Representative Ayala fabricated evidence in response to this investigation, with the intent of misleading Commission staff. The investigation also revealed evidence that Bridgeport Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala, Representative Ayala’s mother, knew of and may have cooperated in Representative Ayala’s fraudulent activity. After investigation, Counsel recommends that the Commission refer this matter to the Chief State’s Attorney’s office for a criminal investigation of State Representative Christina Ayala for the following charges:
1) General Statutes § 9-360 for fraudulently voting in an election or primary in which she was not qualified to vote.
2) General Statutes § 9-361 for unlawfully voting in a primary in which she was not eligible to vote.
3) General Statutes § 9-357 for fraudulently procuring herself to be an elector.
4) General Statutes § 53a-157b for making a false statement on 3 voter registration forms and on a SEEC Form 1 intended to mislead a public servant in the performance of such official’s function.
5) General Statutes § 53a-155 for fabricating physical evidence with the purpose of misleading a public servant engaged in an official proceeding against her.
After investigation, Counsel recommends that the Commission refer this matter to the Chief State’s Attorney’s office for a criminal investigation of Bridgeport Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala for the following charges:
1) General Statutes § 9-355 for criminal negligence and/or fraud in the performance of her duties as a registrar of voters
2) General Statutes § 53a-48 for conspiracy to commit conduct, which constituted a crime and which was committed.
Counsel recommends that the matter remain open at the Commission and that staff be permitted to conduct further investigation under those statutes in Title 9 under which the Commission has civil jurisdiction.
This was certainly in the cards and should come as no surprise to anyone. Now what about her mother for aiding and abetting her daughter? There’s a conspiracy if I ever saw one!
“The investigation also revealed evidence that Bridgeport Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala, Representative Ayala’s mother, knew of and may have cooperated in Representative Ayala’s fraudulent activity.”
Godiva, key words: “may have cooperated.”
I don’t think you’ll ever see the day Christina would tell on her mother. Heck, you were the one who got pissed off when you read my posting in which I revealed I notified the IRS about your favorite non-profit receiving $2,800 in wages from Andres Ayala’s Candidate Committee in 2012–an obvious violation of IRS rules regarding non-profit participation in elections.
Did you see the 604 Noble Avenue address mentioned in this “conspiracy?” Right around this time in 2012, this same address with different names of people was being used to raise money in hopes of qualifying for the CEP Grant. Jeremiah Berrios, Robert Cotto, Joshua Alvarez and Jermane Lee Alvarez of 604-606 Noble Avenue allegedly contributed $5 each. Around the same time, two additional individuals contributed $100 each using the address of 604 Noble Avenue. You are probably thinking this has to do with Christina Ayala. No, it has nothing to do with Christina’s Candidate Committee. The contributions were made to Ayala 2012–Andres Ayala’s Exploratory Committee in 2012. You can’t truly see a conspiracy if you’re reluctant to look at supporting documents.
Joel Gonzalez, real good, great follow-up on a very important issue, keep the public informed.
Good job, Joel.
Guilty or not, her punishment would be less than the normal citizen of the Park City. Politicians and the rich have two sets of laws. One for them and the harsher ones for us.
This would be a good chance for the State to draw some “bright lines.”
It is wrong for a candidate to file with an address where they do not actually live.
It is wrong for a registrar to allow a candidate to do that when the registrar has knowledge the address is false.
Candidates are supposed to represent their districts. One way we do that is by requiring them to suffer along with the people who voted for them.
The Ayalas are nice people, etc. But the law is still the law, and has to be if we want this place to be a democracy.
Sorry Joel, but I totally disagree with your assessment. In spite of your expertise working with the BPD and countless hours of research watching Law and Order, all we know at this time is no judge has signed an arrest warrant.
I am not saying I believe Santa is guilty of anything but I am also not as bold as you are to declare her innocent. This is a process. It takes time. It may take leverage at some point. You suggest Christine would not turn on her mother and that may be true but the state may also be holding back any actions against her mother as leverage against Christina. Take the deal and we will leave your mother alone. Go to trial and we won’t.
The state may be more anxious to go after a State Rep who may have fraudulently qualified for state CEP fends (see State of Connecticut vs. Ernie Newton) than to complicate the matter with both family members. If Santa Ayala has not been charged she can be called as a witness for the state.
And I am sure the state would like nothing better to send a message to all registrars, if you get involved in something like this, you may find yourself in trouble. But it all comes down to priorities.
To quote my dear friend John Marshall Lee, “Time do smell.”
Bob Walsh, your points are well taken here, “If Santa Ayala has not been charged she can be called as a witness for the state.”
“And I am sure the state would like nothing better to send a message to all registrars, if you get involved in something like this, you may find yourself in trouble.”
Thank you dear troll friend for raising the subject of priorities, and a tip of the hat to you, too. Sometimes, “time … smells,” and sometimes, “Time … smiles” but mostly, time will tell.
There is always hope for the future.
news.msn.com/us/ex-convict-seeking-comeback-leads-race-for-providence-mayor-poll
Folks, there are senators, state reps, council members and others who do not live where they say and where their voter registrations say they do. When is it going to stop?
Well invincible, why don’t you:
1) Name names and
2) File a complaint with the SEEC for any state elected officials who have taken part in the state CEP program,
rather than just whining on OIB. For city officials, file a complaint with the Ethics Commission.
Whining, Bob! Really! I do not know why I haven’t! Perhaps, because I have read on this blog, the SEEC does not investigate, some people are given a smack on the hand. So I decided to whine on OIB, instead. Be gentle, Mr. Bob Walsh.
invincible, the SEEC is flooded with complaints and for the amount of money available, they seem to not spend enough money in a shorter period to investigate. They take too long to investigate but are very quick to release the money and from my point of view they are not paying close attention before approving the funding. One doesn’t necessarily need to file a complaint for them to investigate. The Christina Ayala matter is an example. As far as I’m informed, no one filed a complaint but the attention generated by Kaila Torres of the Connecticut Post got their attention. Before the Christina Ayala fiasco started, I had flagged the 604 Noble Avenue address as it appeared in Andres Ayala 2012 Committee report to SEEC. I had been following the activities of Americo Santiago and Andres since around 2006. As an example, Americo Santiago controlled Juntos PAC. When Andres ran for State Rep. in the 128th, his committee received a contribution from Juntos PAC made by Americo Santiago. After the election, Andres Ayala’s Committee paid Americo Santiago $1,200 for consulting work. Very creative way to steal money from your own PAC.
Santa Ayala has not been charged as of yet. The State’s Attorney’s office may still be investigating the allegations. This is the criminal justice system, not a fast-food stand. Two of the offenses Christina Ayala has been charged with (General Statutes § 53a-157b, making a false statement on three voter registration forms and on a SEEC Form 1 intended to mislead a public servant in the performance of such official’s function; and General Statutes § 53a-155, fabricating physical evidence with the purpose of misleading a public servant engaged in an official proceeding against her) are felonies serious enough to call for a prison sentence.
Charlie, the judges on the bench here in Bridgeport take an extremely dim view of the political corruption and fraudulent voting practices that are all too familiar to the people of the city of Bridgeport. Joe Ganim and Ernie “Moses” Newton both went to prison. Ayala is a reckless young woman.
Those were Federal prosecutors and judges, not from this corrupt state!
Walsh, when did you become the judge and the jury?