Bridgeport Councilman Arrested Again for Absentee Ballot Fraud

UPDATE: Bridgeport City Councilman Alfredo Castillo has been arrested for the fourth time, facing serious charges of absentee ballot fraud. This latest arrest occurred on Wednesday when Castillo turned himself in at Troop G in Bridgeport, accompanied by his attorney, Frank Riccio. He has been released on a promise to appear in court this Friday.

Castillo’s legal troubles are escalating, as he is already facing over 30 criminal charges linked to the abuse of the state’s absentee ballot system from the 2019 and 2023 Democratic primary elections. The most recent charge involves allegations that he illegally took a woman’s absentee ballot after instructing her on how to vote in the municipal election.

According to the affidavit, Castillo visited Angela King at her apartment on East Washington Avenue, guiding her through the voting process. King reported to investigators that Castillo not only told her who to vote for but also assisted her in filling out the ballot at her kitchen table. She confirmed, “He told me,” when asked if she voted for her choice or followed his instructions. After completing the ballot, Castillo reportedly took it with him, promising to mail it on her behalf.

Surveillance footage corroborates this claim, showing Castillo knocking on King’s door in mid-October. Furthermore, King positively identified Castillo in a photo lineup, stating, “100 percent he took my ballot.”

In a separate incident, another resident, Anne Rodriguez, reported a similar encounter with a “chubby” man who advised her on how to vote. However, she could not identify Castillo when shown his photo, instead choosing a deceased individual.

The case has been escalated to the Chief State’s Attorney’s office by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC), which has already referred cases against 11 different defendants for election fraud. Most of these cases are still pending, with the exception of Josephine Edmonds, who has pleaded guilty and received a three-year suspended sentence.

Castillo and other defendants, including Wanda Geter-Pataky, are scheduled to appear in court on December 11. Riccio noted that negotiations are ongoing, stating, “The state is beginning to make offers to people,” although he expects that those charged with more serious offenses, like Castillo and Geter-Pataky, may not receive favorable deals.

This unfolding situation raises critical questions about election integrity in Bridgeport, as the community watches closely. The ramifications of these fraudulent activities could impact future elections and voter trust.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.