News release from Chief State’s Attorney Patrick Griffin:
Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin today announced that five people have been criminally charged in connection with the misuse of absentee ballots during the 2023 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral cycle.
Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney today arrested Alfredo Castillo, age 53, Wanda Geter-Pataky, age 68, Maria Pereira, age 57, and Jazmarie Melendez, age 26, all of Bridgeport, and Margaret Joyce, age, 45, of Stratford.
On September 12, 2023, the City of Bridgeport held a primary election for the Democratic Party candidate nomination for mayor. The candidates were incumbent Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, and his challenger, John Gomes. Ganim was declared the winner after the absentee ballot votes put him ahead of Gomes, who was the victor at the polls. On September 13, 2023, the Bridgeport Police Department received a complaint alleging that Geter-Pataky violated state laws regarding absentee balloting. Gomes filed a civil lawsuit in Superior Court in Bridgeport alleging absentee ballot fraud shortly thereafter resulting in a court-ordered new primary. The Bridgeport complaint was referred to the State Elections Enforcement Commission or “SEEC”. The SEEC subsequently referred the case to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney for further investigation by the Statewide Prosecution Bureau. The SEEC referred two additional complaints for investigation alleging Pereira violated Connecticut election laws during the same primary.
Some of the facts and circumstances alleged in the arrest warrant affidavits stemming from the criminal investigation formed the basis of the civil lawsuit alleging absentee ballot fraud that resulted in a judge’s decision ordering a new Democratic mayoral primary.
“The Office of the Chief State’s Attorney takes allegations of voter fraud seriously and I commend the Statewide Prosecution Bureau’s investigative efforts that resulted in these arrests,” Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said. “To protect the integrity of our voting process in Connecticut, it is important that our elections are fair and free from fraudulent activity and criminal intent. These prosecutions hopefully send the message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.”
All five defendants were released on promises to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court, Geographical Area No. 2, on March 6, 2025.
These charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The investigation resulted in the following charges:
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Castillo was charged with five counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b), five counts of being Present When an Absentee Ballot Applicant Executes an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(e) and eight counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d).
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Geter-Pataky was charged with 42 counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d), two counts of Fraudulent Voting, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-360, 22 counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b), 17 counts of being Present When an Absentee Ballot Applicant Executes an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(e) and nine counts of Conspiracy to Commit Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 53a-48/9-140b(d).
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Pereira was charged with 20 counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b), four counts of being Present When an Absentee Ballot Applicant Executes an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(e), five counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d), Forgery in the Second Degree, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-139 and Disorderly Conduct, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-182.
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Melendez was charged with six counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b).
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Joyce was charged with four counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b), four counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d) and Fraudulent Voting, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-360.
To reiterate:
But will there be a thorough, professionally-conducted investigation that seeks to uncover the WHOLE TRUTH about any conspiratorial basis (for the ballot-stuffing caught on video) that identifies all of the conspirators — including beneficiaries?! Something tells me that the current Administration in Hartford doesn’t want that to happen (based on the Governor’s dismissive acceptance of the tainted final results of the election and his statement in that light that “…It’s time to move on…” [from the ballot-stuffing scandal and just sit back and accept the election results (as if nothing had happened)]. Struck me as suspicious coming from someone who benefitted from Bridgeport’s election-largess in previous statewide elections…
Lennie and Jeff, talking about, “…a thorough, professionally-conducted investigation that seeks to uncover the WHOLE TRUTH…”
Tomorrow, it’s the 35 Anniversary of the February 22, 1990, Guilty as Charged ruling against Thomas Marra. Tonight, I’m going to steal Bridgeport’s Police Thief Car and take a wild ride around the whole city. Rest in Peace Alex Palmieri.
Lennie G wrote: “We’ll see how this plays out.”
Let’s be more cynical here and hope we can see how this ‘plays-to-pay out.’
Now it’s time for me to go in to John Marshall Lee mode:
Where are the comments from Mayor Joke (He now calls him Joey) Ganim? Any comments from Council President Nieves? What will my friend DTC Chairmen Mario Testo do with Geter? Will he send Geter to Siberia with the State Trooper from Troop G(onzalez)? How is it possible that Alfredo Castillo, an admitted member of MS-13, whose parents are from El Salvador and Guatemala, where able to give birth and raise Alfredo in Bridgeport, CT., as stated in his City Council Bio? If Alfredo Castillo was able to get an undocumented person to vote, how simple can it be for him to get a fake identity? How long does it take for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to look into the complaint/allegations mentioned above? Could this be why Bridgeport Police Thief Roderick Porter doesn’t want ICE snooping around Bridgeport? Should I pay any attention to anything Joel Speedy Gonzalez writes or says? Why would any one of you believe a man with a vendetta against our Great Mayor; our great Thief of Police; Our fine Political establishment? Time is telling, when will people fucking listen?
Listen,this had to be done.It was at the point here in Bpt that the majority of the voters felt what’s the sense,the DTC and their absentee operation(and make no mistake,it was an “operation”)decide who wins elections.It was out of control.Wondering why though,the orchestra leader Mario,escaped this roundup?
Okay, there’s one person who has been laying low and on the run. This person conspired in a quid- pro-quo, in hope of securing and keeping his position as Director of Bridgeport Public Works Department, on return for producing the Wanda Geter ballot stuffing video.
His name is Craig Nadrizny the former (He’d like us to believe he simply retired) Director of Bridgeport Public Works Department.
About a week before the video surfaced, the Gomes Campaign held an odd brief Press Conference/Release which produce a smell of a huge rat lasting up until the day I saw the video. I quickly Speed Dialed Lennie Grimaldi and asked Lennie who are the suspected perpetrators. A hispanic police officer and John Gomes’ daughters were the top suspects.
I broke it down to Lennie like this:
Lennie, remember last week’s press conference at the Gome’s headquarters? Isn’t odd to go through all that to simply state that in the event Gomes wins, John Ricci will not return as Director of Public Facilities? That was done to publicly go on record and signal Craig Nadrizny. Get us the video and you keep your job. Nadrizny had a physical encounter with Councimen Alfredo Castigo a the Wonderland of ICE facility. No not the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility, Stupid. JML, do you see and feel the Irony here? Wanda Geter was/is the district leader of Castigo’s 136th District. Talk about knocking three birds with one stone.
About 6 months before, Nadrizny and Police Thief Roderick Porter, conspired to remove me (The Janitor) from the Police Department and ban me from all Police Deparment Areas for absolutely NO just cause. He wouldn’t even reveal the name or gender of “A Detective” who complained about me having been, just “Acting Erractic”. The detective was/is Detective Frank Podpolucha, head of the one man Fonancials Crime Unit. Who for about three years sat on and swept under the rug a complaint I filed for him to investigate, against a Home Improvement contractor, who had done work on Poadpaluchas home in Fairfield years prior to ripping me of for over $65,000.
JML, and perhaps others would like to convince you the readers that I gave a vendetta going on here. No, I’m Just Acting Erratic. Be careful what you wish for, you will all get it.
JML, is this FUCKING clear enough or must I wipe the cold out your eyes and clear the wax out your ear?
As for Nadrizny, how did your Application for the Stratford Public Works Position Go? There’s a huge price to pay for all those responsible for taking food from my family’s table, directly or indirectly. Comprenden Cabrones?