Bronx district leader admits to years of corruption and illegal poll worker scheme involving extortion and fraud

Bronx, New York – In a troubling case that shines a spotlight on election integrity and public corruption, Nicole Torres, an elected district leader in the Bronx and former employee of the New York City Board of Elections (NYC-BOE), has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit extortion and mail fraud. The charges stem from a years-long scheme in which Torres accepted payments in exchange for poll worker positions and falsified official records to steal government funds.

The announcement came from Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who confirmed that Torres entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil.

“For five years, Nicole Torres abused her position of public trust as an elected official and City employee by taking bribes and falsifying records in connection with the selection and placement of poll workers in the Bronx,” said Podolsky. “Today’s plea highlights this Office’s commitment to rooting out corruption in local government, and to protecting the integrity of poll workers and our elections.”

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According to court filings and statements made in court, Torres, 44, orchestrated two separate but related schemes while holding dual roles as a district leader in the 81st Assembly District and as an employee of the NYC-BOE. Her actions, which spanned from 2016 through August 2024, involved soliciting illegal payments and manipulating official documents to benefit herself and her associates financially.

The first scheme involved extorting residents of the Bronx who hoped to serve as poll workers. Between 2019 and 2024, Torres required these individuals to pay fees—typically around $150—in exchange for being selected to work during elections. Some payments were directed to a local organization referred to as the “Bronx Organization,” while others went directly to Torres. The methods of payment varied: mobile payment apps, checks, and money orders were all used. In multiple instances, Torres even altered the payee name on checks and money orders that were made out to the Bronx Organization, changing them to “Nicole Torres” so she could deposit the funds into her own account.

In total, prosecutors say Torres pocketed approximately $28,000 from this extortion scheme.

The second scheme began even earlier. From at least 2018 through August 2024, Torres and her co-conspirators engaged in widespread fraud by submitting false information to the NYC-BOE. They falsified poll worker attendance records, known as the “Forms Booklet,” to make it appear that certain individuals—referred to in the indictment as “No-Show Poll Workers”—had worked during early voting and on Election Day, even though they had not.

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Torres worked closely with site coordinators to carry out this deception. These coordinators, under Torres’s direction, signed the names of No-Show Poll Workers into the official Forms Booklet. As a result, the Board of Elections issued paychecks to these individuals. The fraudulently obtained wages were then divided among Torres and her co-conspirators. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Torres personally gained about $36,000 through this scheme.

Together, the two schemes allowed Torres to illegally obtain over $60,000 in public funds and bribe money.

In total, Torres pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Each charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. While the court will ultimately decide her sentence, the case represents a significant fall from grace for a political figure once entrusted with ensuring fair and accurate elections in one of New York City’s most densely populated boroughs.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 8, 2025. The decision will be made by Judge Vyskocil, who has been overseeing the case.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Department of Investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin M. Burkett and Rebecca T. Dell are prosecuting the case.

Torres’s crimes highlight vulnerabilities in the systems designed to protect the democratic process. By leveraging her political influence and her position within the Board of Elections, she manipulated a process intended to empower citizens and help facilitate free and fair elections.

Poll workers are the backbone of the electoral system. They check in voters, manage ballots, and help keep elections running smoothly. Ensuring that they are selected based on merit—not personal payments or favors—is critical to maintaining public trust. The illegal activities orchestrated by Torres not only exploited aspiring poll workers but also undermined the very system she was supposed to serve.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and oversight, especially within institutions that deal directly with democratic processes. As prosecutors continue to uncover public corruption, officials across all levels of government are being reminded that abuse of public office will be met with swift accountability.

Though the damage from Torres’s misconduct may take time to repair, federal authorities say they are committed to restoring public confidence.

This guilty plea, they argue, is one more step toward ensuring that elections in New York—and across the country—remain free from corruption and manipulation.