Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Jessica Martinez of Bridgeport pleaded guilty to making a false declaration before a federal grand jury. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven.
According to court documents and statements, Martinez was the Treasurer for Dennis A. Bradley’s 2018 campaign for a Connecticut State Senate seat. Bradley’s campaign applied for funding through the Citizens' Election Program (CEP), a public election-financing initiative. On March 15, 2018, the campaign held an event at Dolphin's Cove restaurant, which led to violations of CEP rules, including a breach of the personal funding limit and omitted campaign expenses. The SEEC later issued $84,140 in public funds to the campaign.
On September 23, 2020, Martinez testified before the grand jury, falsely claiming that the Dolphin's Cove event was not related to the campaign and that it was organized by Bradley's law firm. She also denied that any fundraising occurred and stated she was not the treasurer at the time.
Martinez is out on a $250,000 bond awaiting sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. Meanwhile, Bradley is still awaiting trial.
"This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan N. Francis and David E. Novick," Silverman said, emphasizing that an indictment is not evidence of guilt and charges must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
