March 10, 2025 — It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks in Bridgeport, as criminal charges were brought against 3 members of City Council in the absentee ballot fraud and abuse investigation that began as a result of the 2023 mayoral Primary.

On Monday, March 3, members of Bridgeport Generation Now, residents of the North End, South End, East End, East Side and Black Rock neighborhoods joined Bridgeport Generation Now’s Co-Directors, Gemeem Davis and Callie Heilmann, in calling for anyone on the Council connected to the election fraud case to resign. So far Alfredo Castillo, Maria Pereira, and Jazmarie Melendez (all charged), Eneida Martinez and Council President Aidee Nieves (not charged but have been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for criminal investigations) – have ignored the calls to step down.

Only two Bridgeport elected officials have joined the public calls for resignations. State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox told Connecticut Public Radio last week that “in cases where there are so many allegations against people… I think it would be better to step down from a position until the matter is resolved.” And in a 2/21/25 post on X, State Representative Steve Strafstrom said, “They need to go…like yesterday.”

While these latest charges bring even more public pressure and legal scrutiny to Bridgeport’s local elections, it is possible that state prosecutors have not concluded their investigation. In addition to being charged with the mishandling of ballots and failing to inform voters of absentee voting eligibility requirements and more, Ms. Wanda Geter-Pataky, Vice Chair of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee who is facing 92 separate counts was also charged with conspiracy. Which raises the questions, who are her co-conspirators and will they be charged?

Her arrest warrant identifies several people, including Noel Green, a custodian at City Hall, as well as Salandra Grace, a city employee in the Vital Records office. Assistant Town Clerk Christina Resto and Joshua Diaz are also named in one incident, standing idly by and watch as Geter-Pataky casually places an absentee ballot into a bin Mr. Diaz was holding. So far, none of the other people have been charged.

Meanwhile, here’s what we know so far.

Alfredo Castillo: City Council member for the 136th District, Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee member for the 136th District, and Bridgeport Labs board member. Councilman Castillo has been arrested on 18 counts related to election fraud during the 2023 primary election and 4 counts related to the 2019 primary. His alleged criminal activity was on behalf of himself and Mayor Joe Ganim. He is currently awaiting trial and his next court date is Friday, March 21st at 9:30am in Bridgeport Superior Court.

Since this second round of charges, Mr. Castillo has been telling reporters that he simply “gets out the vote” for Ganim and if he doesn’t “Ganim loses.” Last week, before his arraignment, he told NBC Connecticut “I voted for Trump, I’m Hispanic, and now they’re coming after me.”

Click here to play video: https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/five-charged-bridgeport-election-case-court-appearance/3514192/

Separately, after Mr. Castillo was arrested in 2024, it was revealed that his license and car registration for five vehicles listed a Shelton address as his primary address and that he had been avoiding paying Bridgeport car taxes for years.

You can read Alfredo Castillo’s arrest affidavit on 2023 charges here: https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/24/bridgeport-arrest-warrants-voter-fraud-wanda-geter-pataky-joe-ganim-john-gomes/

Wanda Geter-Pataky: 1st Vice Chairperson for the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee, District Leader for the 136th Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee District, former City of Bridgeport employee, and Justice of the Peace (appointed by Chairman, Mario Testa.) Wanda Geter-Pataky has been arrested on 92 counts related to election fraud during the 2023 primary election and 4 counts related to the 2019 primary. Her alleged activity was on behalf of Mayor Joe Ganim. She is currently awaiting trial and her next court date is Friday, March 21st at 9:30am in Bridgeport Superior Court.

Separately, there’s been calls for investigations into Ms. Geter-Pataky’s role in performing illegal marriages in Bridgeport and New Haven.

You can read Wanda Geter-Pataky’s arrest affidavit on 2023 charges here: https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/24/bridgeport-arrest-warrants-voter-fraud-wanda-geter-pataky-joe-ganim-john-gomes/

Maria Pereira: Bridgeport City Council member from the 138th District and former Board of Education member. Ms. Pereira has been arrested on 29 counts of election fraud, 1 count of forgery, and 1 count of disorderly conduct related to the 2023 primary election. Her alleged activity was on behalf of herself and mayoral candidate John Gomes. Her next court date is Friday, March 21st at 10:00am in Bridgeport Superior Court, where she will enter a plea.

You can read Maria Pereira’s arrest affidavit on 2023 charges here: https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/24/bridgeport-arrest-warrants-voter-fraud-wanda-geter-pataky-joe-ganim-john-gomes/

Jazmarie Melendez: Bridgeport City Council member representing the 138th District. Ms. Melendez has been arrested on 6 counts of election fraud related to the 2023 primary election. Her alleged activity was on behalf of herself and mayoral candidate John Gomes. Her next court date is Friday, March 21st at 10:00am in Bridgeport Superior Court, where she will enter a plea.

You can read Jazmarie Melendez’s arrest affidavit on 2023 charges here: https://ctmirror.org/2025/02/24/bridgeport-arrest-warrants-voter-fraud-wanda-geter-pataky-joe-ganim-john-gomes/

Aidee Nieves: Bridgeport City Council President representing the 137th District and a member of the 137th Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee. Ms. Nieves, who was endorsed by our Unrig Bridgeport coalition in 2021 and 2023, has been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for possible criminal investigation in connection with the 2023 mayoral election. In November, the coalition voted to rescind her endorsement. Her alleged activity was on behalf of herself and Mayor Joe Ganim.

You can read about Aidee Nieves’s referral related to absentee ballot harvesting in the 2023 mayoral election here: https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/article/bridgeport-mayoral-primary-complaint-19716497.php

Eneida Martinez: Bridgeport City Council member from the 139th District and a member of the 139th Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee. Ms. Martinez has been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for possible criminal investigation in connection to the 2023 mayoral election. Her alleged activity was on behalf of herself and Mayor Joe Ganim.

Separately, Ms. Martinez testified in court last week that she initially lied to Bridgeport police when they arrived at the scene of 21 year-old Nyair Nixon’s murder at her Keystone strip club about the fact that the shooting happened inside her club and instructed people to clean up the area. Additionally, Ms. Martinez was operating the club illegally at the time, as the city was under lockdown orders due to the COVD-19 pandemic.

Ms. Martinez is currently awaiting trial related to her involvement in Nixon’s death, after a judge denied her special probation due to the seriousness of her charges. She is also named in a wrongful death civil suit filed by Mr. Nixon’s family.

You can read about Eneida Martinez’s referral related to video footage at ballot dropboxes: https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/seec-forwards-martinez-complaint-dismisses-ganim-s-19579383.php

Maria Agueda: Seasonal campaign worker. Agueda worked on Ganim’s campaign in 2019 and John Gomes’ campaign in 2023. Agueda has been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for possible criminal investigation in connection with the 2023 mayoral election. Her alleged activity was on behalf of John Gomes.

You can read about Maria Agueda’s referral related to video footage at ballot dropboxes here: https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-election-john-gomes-joe-ganim-ballots-19969130.php

Maria Hernandez: Seasonal campaign worker. Hernandez worked on Ganim’s campaign in 2019 and John Gomes’ campaign in 2023. Hernandez has been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for possible criminal investigation in connection with the 2023 mayoral election. Her alleged activity was on behalf of John Gomes.

You can read about Maria Hernandez’s referral related to video footage at ballot dropboxes here: https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-election-john-gomes-joe-ganim-ballots-19969130.php

Josue Jorge: Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee member 137th District. 2023 Candidate for City Council. Jorge has been referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for possible criminal investigation in connection with the 2023 mayoral election. His alleged activity was on behalf of himself and John Gomes.

You can read about Josue Jorge’s referral related to video footage at ballot dropboxes here: https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-election-john-gomes-joe-ganim-ballots-19969130.php