Bridgeport City Councilor Indicted On Vote Theft Charges: Feds

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Bridgeport City Council member has been indicted on vote theft charges, according to a statement from federal prosecutors. Michael DeFilippo, 35, was charged with multiple election crimes related to his run for city council in 2017 and 2018.

DeFilippo appeared in court in New Haven, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was released on $250,000 bond, according to the statement.

DeFilippo, a Democrat, has been a member of the council since 2018, representing the 133rd district, and owns several rental properties in Bridgeport that he leases to Sacred Heart University students.

According to the statement: "In 2017 and 2018, in connection with the 133rd District’s primaries and general election for City Council, DeFilippo and others conspired to interfere with and obstruct Bridgeport citizens’ right to vote by falsifying his tenants’ voter registration applications and absentee ballots applications, then stealing tenants’ absentee ballots and forging their signatures in order to fraudulently vote for DeFilippo."

DeFilippo was charged with one count of conspiracy against rights, four counts of identity theft, and 11 counts of fraudulent registration.

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, and the identity theft and fraudulent registration charges carry a maximum prison term of five years on each count.

"The right to vote and have one’s vote counted in a fair and impartial election is the foundation of our democracy," Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard C. Boyle said in a statement. "It is alleged that this defendant violated that right to help himself win election to the Bridgeport City Council, including by stealing ballots and forging signatures. The U.S. Attorney's Office and our FBI partners will continue to vigorously enforce federal laws to safeguard our elections."

DeFilippo declined to seek renomination to his seat at Monday night’s Democratic Town Committee meeting, according to The Connecticut Post.

"Combatting public corruption in all forms continues to be a priority of the FBI," FBI Special Agent in Charge David Sundberg said in a statement. "Our mission to protect and serve will always include ensuring our public officials are held to the same standards as every member of our communities."