A Bronx Board of Elections District Leader, Nicole Torres, has been indicted on multiple charges, including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, and identity theft.
The 43-year-old official allegedly demanded payments from poll workers in exchange for job recommendations and falsified documents to receive illegal payments, according to federal prosecutors.
Kickbacks for Poll Worker Jobs
Between 2019 and 2024, Torres allegedly solicited payments from individuals seeking poll worker positions. As the Republican District Leader for the New York Board of Elections (NYC-BOE), she recommended people for these positions, but only if they paid her. Prosecutors claim Torres received a total of $28,000 in bribes from individuals who hoped to work during election cycles.
According to the indictment, poll workers could either apply directly to the NYC-BOE or seek a recommendation from the district leader. The latter option offered a higher chance of securing a job. This system, prosecutors say, allowed Torres to extort money from residents desperate for employment. She allegedly instructed payments to be made through various methods, including money apps, checks, and money orders.
The indictment also reveals that Torres went to great lengths to conceal her actions. She is accused of altering money orders by placing her name on the payee line, allowing her to deposit the money into her own account. The illegal payments reportedly went either to her directly or to a local organization called the Bronx Organization.
Falsifying Time Records
Torres’ alleged crimes didn’t stop at demanding bribes. Prosecutors claim she engaged in a second scheme from 2018 until August 2024, falsifying work records to make it seem that certain poll workers had worked when they hadn’t.
These so-called “No-Show Poll Workers” would not report for duty, but their information would be recorded as if they had worked, ensuring they got paid.
According to the indictment, Torres conspired with others at different polling sites to forge check-in and check-out times for absent workers. However, the paychecks meant for these no-show workers were allegedly split among Torres and her co-conspirators.
Federal prosecutors have reportedly obtained text messages showing Torres making arrangements with others on how to falsify the records and divide the fraudulent payments. In one instance, Torres allegedly confirmed that a poll worker who had not worked in March 2021 was still listed as present. A co-conspirator received the worker’s paycheck, and Torres shared in the money.
$36,000 in Falsified Payments
The scheme is said to have earned Torres at least $36,000 in illegal funds. She reportedly managed the operation by communicating with her co-conspirators through text messages, phone calls, and in-person meetings. These communications allegedly detailed how they would falsify time records and share the money.
Federal authorities are taking the accusations seriously.
“Torres took advantage of her position of trust to line her pockets at the expense of taxpayers,” a prosecutor said in a statement.
The Legal Battle Ahead
Torres has not yet entered a plea, and a hearing date has not been scheduled. If convicted, she faces significant prison time for her role in the bribery, extortion, and fraud schemes.
The indictment against Torres underscores the importance of accountability in election processes.
As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, stated, “Public officials who abuse their power for personal gain will be held accountable.”