TRENTON, NJ — Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez, along with his wife and three other individuals, has been charged in a superseding indictment for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to steal and falsify ballots during Paterson’s May 2020 municipal election, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) said Mendez and co-defendants Yohanny Mendez, Omar Ledesma, Iris Rigo, and Ninoska Adames face multiple charges including election fraud, forgery, and witness tampering.
The indictment stems from an investigation that began after hundreds of mail-in ballots were discovered in a mailbox in Haledon, while all voting was being conducted by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Points
- Paterson Council President Alex Mendez and others charged in expanded election fraud case.
- Accusations include ballot theft, forgery, witness tampering, and voter registration fraud.
- Investigation began when mail-in ballots were found discarded in a neighboring town.
“This case is not simply about a city council seat,” said Attorney General Platkin. “The people’s right to vote and to have their voices heard was subverted by what we allege to be an unlawful conspiracy.” According to OPIA, the expanded investigation uncovered new allegations of witness tampering and theft related to the 2020 vote-by-mail election.
The 10-count indictment includes new third-degree charges of theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing and possessing others’ ballots. It also includes a new charge of witness tampering after investigators say the defendants encouraged witnesses to provide false or contradictory statements.
Election fraud and public records violations detailed
The defendants are accused of submitting fake or fraudulent vote-by-mail registrations and ballots, falsifying voter certificates, and interfering with the state’s investigation. Ninoska Adames faces third-degree charges of hindering apprehension and tampering with public records for allegedly submitting a fraudulent vote-by-mail certificate and lying to investigators.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, they face penalties ranging from 18 months to 10 years in state prison and fines up to $150,000 depending on the degree of the offense.
Deputy Attorneys General Diana Bibb and Lisa Cialino are prosecuting the case for OPIA under the supervision of senior officials in the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
Mail-in ballot dump leads to sweeping indictment of Paterson political figures.