by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY EXCLUSIVE, April 17 – A Republican District Leader in the 81st Assembly District in The Bronx has been indicted for accepting bribes to give out poll worker jobs, as an employee of the Board of Elections.
On August 27 at 2 pm, Nicole Torres was brought by U.S. Marshals before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the SDNY Mag court.
The Assistant US Attorney agreed to release on unsecured $50,000 bond, with a next conference before District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil set for September 10 at 3 pm. The now unsealed indictment alleged that Torres "illegally demanded payments from Bronx residents to herself and a local organization in exchange for selecting individuals as poll workers." Full indictment on Patreon here
On September 10, Torres was arraigned by Judge Vyskocil in a nearly empty courtroom. Inner City Press was there, thread
On December 9 the US Attorney's Office wrote in to cancel the December 17 appearance.
And on March 13 the US Attorney's Office submitted a joint letter to schedule a guilty plea proceeding for April 16.
Inner City Press went, thread
Judge: Are there victims in this case, and if so have they been notified? AUSA: Yes and yes. [A person emailed Inner City Press that he intends to try to speak at this hearing, we'll see]
Judge: Do you take any drugs or medications? Nicole Torres: Medical marijuana, twice a day. Judge: For anxiety? Torres: And pain. Judge: Do you wish to change your plea to guilty? Torres: I do.
Judge: You were charged in seven counts, but I understand the Government has you pleading guilty only to Counts 1 and 5, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 18 USC 1341. And they have agreed to a sentencing guideline of 70 to 87 months
Sentencing was set for July 8.
More on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
The case is USA v. Torres, 1:24-cr-499 (Vyskocil / Aaron)
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