For Former City Councilman DeFilippo Just Three Weekends In The Joint In Election Fraud Case

Michael DeFilippo, 38, a Democrat who represented Bridgeport’s 133rd District, had been about to go to trial in U.S. District Court when he agreed to instead plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of deprivation of rights. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden in New Haven to three weekends of incarceration followed by a year of probation and was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine.

“The defendant Michael DeFilippo willfully struck a blow at foundational principles of local democracy. He thwarted the will of the people to cheat his way into elected office, placing his own political ambition above the will of the voting public. He misused his financial power over his young tenants to steal their votes, thereby disenfranchising these vulnerable citizens,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis told the judge in urging him to impose a prison term.

“Mike’s poor judgment cost him his city council seat and the respect of his community,” DeFilippo’s lawyer, Francis O’Reilly, told the judge. “He has already suffered greatly and no punishment from this court will (eclipse) the punishment he has brought on himself.”