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For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
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December 2, 2010

Office of The Attorney General
- Paula T. Dow, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Stephen J. Taylor, Director

Media Inquiries-
609-292-4791
Citizen Inquiries-
609-292-4925

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Paterson City Councilman Rigo Rodriguez & His Wife Arrested This Morning for Alleged Witness Tampering Related to Investigation into May 2010 City Council Election
Rodriguez’s Top Advisor Also Arrested

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TRENTON - Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen J. Taylor announced that Paterson City Councilman Rigo Rodriguez, his wife and a top advisor were arrested this morning by the New Jersey State Police on charges of witness tampering related to an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police into the May 2010 Paterson city council election.

According to Director Taylor, Rigo Rodriguez, 38, of Paterson, his wife, Lissette Rodriguez, 31, of Paterson, and Juan L. Jimenez, 45, of Paterson, were each arrested this morning on charges of third-degree witness tampering. Additional charges may be forthcoming.

All of the defendants were arrested at their homes in Paterson this morning by the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit and were transported to the Totowa Station and issued complaint summonses. The defendants are expected to be released later today. They will be ordered to appear at the Passaic County Superior Court at a later date yet to be determined.

It is alleged that after the defendants became aware of an active investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and State Police, they instructed voters as to how to answer police questions, including advising them to lying to police.

Including today’s arrests, a total of 14 people have been arrested this week in connection with the alleged voter fraud schemes. A 15th person involved with this case remains a fugitive.

Seven people were arrested on Tuesday on charges of second- and third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public record: Belkis M. Cespedes, 50, of Paterson; Ana Vely-Gomez, 47, of Paterson; Lucia A. Guzman, 41, of Paterson; Inocencio Jimenez, 55, of Paterson; and Jose Ramon Ruiz, 62, of Prospect Park. In addition, Dalila Rodriguez, 60, of Paterson, and Wilson A. Torres, 29, of Paterson, were arrested yesterday on charges of third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records.

Four people were arrested yesterday and charged with third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records: Octavio A. Dominguez, 47, of Elmwood Park; Juana A. Gil, 43, of Paterson; Jose E. Gonzalez, 42, of Paterson; and Loudes Inoa, 37, of Paterson.

In addition, Ricardo A. Fermin-Cepeda, 24, of Paterson, was charged with second- and third-degree voter fraud and third-degree tampering with public records. Fermin-Cepeda is currently a fugitive.

The defendants arrested yesterday and Tuesday, as well as Fermin-Cepeda, all allegedly acted as bearers/messengers for mail-in (absentee) ballots. The complaint summonses allege that the defendants tampered with mail-in ballots and/or voted mail-in ballots on behalf of voters who did not receive the ballots or who did not authorize them to vote for them.

It is also alleged that Cespedes voted twice – once using her married named of Belkis Cespedes and once using her maiden name of Belkis Nunez.

Following the May 2010 city council election, the Division of Criminal Justice received complaints of possible voter fraud. The Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau and the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption Unit launched an investigation approximately one week after the election.

The investigation is being coordinated by Detective Brian Murphy of the New Jersey State Police Official Corruption North Unit and Deputy Attorney General Vincent Militello of the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau.

Because the charges are indictable offenses, this case is subject to presentation to a grand jury for potential indictment. The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a criminal fine of $150,000 while third-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of five years in state prison and a $15,000 fine.

Director Taylor noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tipline for the public to report corruption, financial fraud and other illegal activities: 1-866-TIPS-4CJ. Additionally, the public can log on to the Division of Criminal Justice Web site at www.njdcj.org to report suspected wrongdoing. All information received through the Division of Criminal Justice tipline or Web page will remain confidential.

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