Former Bronx District Leader and employee of the New York City Board of Elections, Nicole Torres, received a sentence of two years in prison for extortion and mail fraud, a case that exposes the exploitation of trust and the corruption within one of the city's essential democratic processes. Having previously pled guilty, Torres faced judgment on September 2nd for her nefarious schemes that involved shaking down Bronx residents and falsifying election records. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, called out Torres for abusing her power and declared the city's stance on purging corruption, "By shaking down Bronx residents and falsifying election records, she undermined trust in the very system New Yorkers depend on to make their voices heard."
During her criminal tenure spanning from at least 2019 to August 2024, Torres schemed her way to approximately $40,970, as the prosecution detailed. She demanded and accepted payments for allocating individuals as poll workers, often taking in $150 through various forms of payment, directing some to her or a local Bronx organization. Egregiously, Torres altered money orders and checks intended for the organization to deposit into her bank account, committing unspeakable deceit against New Yorkers who looked up to her as a leader.
Furthermore, Torres involved herself in another scheme falsifying attendance records for polling stations, signing in "No Show" poll workers and collecting their wages, which she and her accomplices would then divide amongst themselves. The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil also includes three years of supervised release and an order for Torres to pay forfeiture of the gained $40,970, ensuring a degree of justice and restitution, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation were lauded by Mr. Clayton, underscoring the diligent work leading to Torres's conviction and sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin M. Burkett and Rebecca T. Dell, belonging to the Office’s Public Corruption Unit, saw through the prosecution.
