City Council candidate Michael DeFilippo falsified voter registration cards and absentee ballots of his North End tenants in furtherance of his legislative run in 2017 and 2018, according to the indictment issued by a federal grand jury. Read full U.S. v. DeFilippo – Indictment.
DeFilippo, 35, is a landlord of several properties in the North End, some of which are occupied by students at Sacred Heart University.
The indictment declares that DeFilippo intentionally conspired and agreed with others to “injure and oppress voters … by stealing and falsifying voter registration and absentee ballot documents, forging signatures, and returning fraudulent documents to the Bridgeport Town Clerk.”
DeFilippo, who is represented by criminal defense attorney Frank O’Reilly, entered a not guilty plea. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden who’s overseeing the election fraud indictment of State Senator Dennis Bradley who is scheduled for trial in December.
On Thursday, DeFilippo resigned from the City Council.
This case, according to the indictment, has an unindicted co-conspirator who could be someone cooperating with the government.
DeFilippo’s election caused a case of electoral whiplash with multiple legal challenges from former State Rep. Bob Keeley who was a council challenger. Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis ordered new two new primaries for alleged absentee ballot abuses.
In one trial police officer Paul Nikola testified then-Police Chief Armando Perez, now serving time for rigging the police exam that raised him to top cop, ordered him to see Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa at his pizzeria where Testa introduced him to DeFilippo who gave the officer addresses to fetch absentee ballots of voters.
Cops can assist with delivering ballots at the request of voters, but not at the direction of party regulars, according to a ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Judge Bellis directed court transcripts be sent to state law enforcement authorities. Did they refer it to the feds?
DeFilippo has bartended for many years at Testa’s restaurants. At Monday night’s Democratic Party endorsement session for City Council, which DeFilippo attended, he inexplicably pulled out of running. The following day the indictment was returned. City Council members were shocked by the news. This investigation operated under the radar.
Bolden’s assignment of the case presents some intriguing questions as legal insiders speculate a possible connection to the Bradley case or perhaps a broader corruption investigation with more to come.
While close to the town chairman, DeFilippo however has been a fierce public and private critic of Mayor Joe Ganim, often voting against administration advancements just because.
DeFilippo was also among three council members to serve on the board of the politically laden non-profit Bridgeport Labs. The council members advanced a resolution calling for a public takeover of the private University of Bridgeport with the intent to install Bridgeport Labs.
Bradley maneuvered preemptively to support his political pals, writing letters to the Department of Justice and New England Commission of Higher Education questioning the veracity of Goodwin University’s takeover of UB which has been approved.
Bradley had met privately for months with political leaders such as City Clerk Lydia Martinez, his political godmother, and connected council members, planning the dubious UB takeover. The full City Council rejected it.
Councilman Matthew McCarthy summed it up quite nicely during public discussion: “The city of Bridgeport has no business running a university.”
So there could be some symmetry between Bradley and DeFilippo et al. The government says others are involved in the DeFilippo conspiracy.
Big Brother ain’t going away. This case, once again, is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Francis. Paging AJ Perez, paging David Dunn, paging Dennis Bradley.
Relevant parts:
Nothing new here to me, or anyone who knows how “they” operate AND HAVE operated for years. The question, which of course will be answered eventually, is who else will go down on this case. I am more excited about other cases involving crimes other than than voter fraud. There are birds that are singing and when that happens a chorus usually follows. Sit tight for the medley of songbirds.
Cheers!
While searchIng OIB archives for my writing about the issue of the day, years ago, I chuckled at “Stevie A’s” comments on March 27 2018, where he was all over me discussing his “friend and nice guy”- Defilippo. I haven’t found what I’m looking for yet but if I continue to search I’ll reference the dates.
“Judge Bellis directed court transcripts be sent to state law enforcement authorities. Did they refer it to the feds?”
The indictment makes references to the court trial. Regardless of who referred the matter or if the feds invited themselves, they’re here. I don’t think this is tied to the UB matter. I do believe that there’s an extension to the 2019 mayoral primary. The SEEC has been quiet regarding the 2019 primary AB irregularity allegations which included the findings of a CtPost investigation. It looks like the SEEC got tired of the loads of complaints coming out of Bridgeport. I believe that the feds have videos from some of the buildings where AB activities took place. I do know that getting security video footage of locations where alleged violations occurred is among the first steps taken by SEEC investigators. If SEEC recovered video footage, the feds got them. Why you think I wear my Speedy Gonzalez costume when handling ABs?
On point! Speedy Gonzalez?!
Unindicted Co-Conspirator UCC-1, I bet I know who she is!
Lol! Many were “interviewed!” On another note:
On November 11, 2017 Lisa Parziale wrote on OIB regarding Defilippo’s tenant college students regarding AB’s: “if it ever reaches that point I doubt they will lie to investigators”. They didn’t Lisa!
They are not UCC’s but I thought I’d just mention that.
Cheers!
The godmother of absentee ballots?
Could be why Santa “Sandy” Ayala retired two years ago? Would it be shocking if she is involved in this investigation considering her entire families record of “public” service? 😂 lol
Look up that history.
Cheers!!