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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/21/2025
(Rocky Hill, CT) - 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 election 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:
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).
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).
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.
Melendez was charged with six counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut
General Statutes � 9-135(b).
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.
https://portal.ct.gov/dcj/press-releases/division-of-criminal- justice/02212025bridgeportarrests?language=en_US
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