Former Bronx district leader Nicole Torres has been sentenced to two years in prison for orchestrating a brazen poll worker scheme that defrauded New Yorkers and undermined the integrity of their democratic process.
In a gritty tale of political corruption, Torres, 44, was found guilty of extorting payments from Bronx residents in exchange for naming them as poll workers. The scheme, which spanned from at least 2019 to August 2024, saw Torres pocketing approximately $28,000 through various means, including mobile payment apps and altered money orders.
But the corruption did not stop there. Torres also masterminded a fraudulent campaign where ‘no-show’ poll workers were falsified in election records. By collaborating with coordinators at specific polling sites, she ensured that these individuals received salaries for work they never performed. The total fraudulently obtained salaries were estimated to be around $40,970.
Today’s sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, comes after Torres pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025. ‘For years, Nicole Torres abused her power to corrupt one of New York City’s most fundamental democratic processes,’ said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. ‘Public officials who contaminate the process and betray this city will be held accountable.’
In addition to serving two years behind bars, Torres has been sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $40,970 in forfeiture.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin M. Burkett and Rebecca T. D are handling the case for the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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