Bronx District Leader Nicole Torres Sold Poll Worker Jobs Got 2 Years Seeks Payment Cap

Bronx District Leader Nicole Torres Sold Poll Worker Jobs Got 2 Years Seeks Payment Cap by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY EXCLUSIVE, March 31 – 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. Then sentencing was pushed back to August 19, at 2:30 pm; her Federal Defender cited her client's medical concerns and a late pre-sentencing report. On August 5 the Federal Defender wrote in, on the guideline of 70 to 87 months, saying the request of for no prison, five years probation the first year of which would have a curfew. On August 12 the US Attorney's Office wrote in asking for 70 months imprisonment. On August 18 sentencing was pushed back from August 19 to September 2: "NOTICE as to Nicole Torres Sentencing in this matter is ADJOURNED to September 2nd at 2 pm." On August 28 Nicole Torres' counsel filed letters of support including one from Steven Guglielmi. While his letter doesn't say who he is, and redacts address, he is listed as the director of personnel of the Board of Elections, the governmental agency Torres defrauded... On September 2 Inner City Press went to the sentencing; Torres' mother and children were there. Judge Vyskocil thanked them for their attendance, and asked why no one else has yet been charged. The AUSA said the investigation is ongoing. Judge Vyskocil said the $149,000 restitution may subsequently be joint and several; she said the comparisons to Dean Skelos and Sheldon Silver, much less Robert Menendez, were inappropriate.     Judge Vyskocil sentenced Torres to two years in prison. Docketed on March 31, 2026, Torres asked to cap her restitution payments at $25 a month while she is incarcerated, noting that Alderson FPC in West Virginia "is not a Unicor institution" and she makes only $15 a month doing cottage maintenance. More on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here   The case is USA v. Torres, 1:24-cr-499 (Vyskocil / Aaron) *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com