Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York | Department of Justice
Nicole Torres, a former district leader in the Bronx and employee of the New York City Board of Elections (NYC-BOE), has been sentenced to two years in prison for her role in extortion and mail fraud conspiracies. The announcement was made by Jay Clayton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Torres previously pleaded guilty on April 17, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who handed down the sentence. In addition to her prison term, Torres received three years of supervised release and must pay forfeiture totaling $40,970.
“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. “By shaking down Bronx residents and falsifying election records, she undermined trust in the very system New Yorkers depend on to make their voices heard. New Yorkers can and should rely on the integrity of the election process, and public officials who contaminate the process and betray this city and its people will be held accountable.”
According to court filings and proceedings, Torres served as a district leader for New York’s 81st Assembly District from at least 2019 through 2024. She was also an NYC-BOE employee from at least 2016 through 2024. During her tenure at NYC-BOE, she had responsibilities that included ensuring poll workers were paid for their service during elections.
The investigation found that between 2019 and August 2024, Torres required Bronx residents to pay sums—usually $150—to herself or a local organization known as the “Bronx Organization” in exchange for being selected as poll workers. Both Torres and the organization profited from this arrangement; Torres personally obtained about $28,000 in illegal payments via mobile payment apps, money orders, or checks—some of which she altered so funds could be deposited into her own account.
Additionally, between 2018 and August 2024, Torres conspired to falsify official attendance records used by poll workers at election sites. These actions made it appear that certain individuals worked as poll workers when they had not actually done so. Coordinators working with Torres signed these individuals into attendance books at her direction. Salaries meant for these “No Show” Poll Workers were then collected—sometimes through mail—and split among those involved.
In total from both schemes combined, Torres earned approximately $40,970.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the New York City Department of Investigation. The Public Corruption Unit within the U.S. Attorney’s Office handled prosecution duties with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin M. Burkett and Rebecca T. Dell leading the case.
