Bridgeport ballot tampering suspects offered plea deals during Election Day court appearance
The seven suspects are charged with illegally possessing absentee ballots, and in some cases, pressuring people to vote for certain candidates. One of the defendants was on Tuesday's ballot.
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As voters headed to the polls on Election Day, several suspects in a wide-ranging ballot fraud investigation in Bridgeport were offered plea bargains, according to attorneys in the cases.
One of the suspects was on Tuesday’s ballot – city councilman Alfredo Castillo. He faces absentee ballot tampering charges from the 2019 and 2023 elections.
Castillo's attorney said prosecutors offered several defendants deals in exchange for guilty pleas, but he would not confirm whether his client was one of them.
“There were discussions as to every defendant today, and some defendants may be heading toward a resolution and some may not,” said Castillo’s attorney, Frank Riccio. “But there was a spirited discussion this afternoon as to all of the defendants who were scheduled for court today.”
Also in court was Wanda Geter-Pataky, the former Bridgeport city employee and top lieutenant for Mayor Joe Ganim, who gained national attention in several ballot box stuffing videos. She faces more than 100 felony counts of ballot crimes.
All seven suspects that appeared on Tuesday will return to court on Dec. 10 and 11, when some may enter guilty pleas.
