Trial continued again for state Sen. Bradley, Martinez

BRIDGEPORT – State Sen. Dennis Bradley and former city Board of Education member Jessica Martinez, both charged with campaign finance fraud, have again been granted a continuance in their federal trial.

However, this time the continuance was requested by prosecutors.

U.S. District Judge Victor Bolton agreed to continue jury selection in the case to May 23 with the trial being held in June.

Both Bradley and Martinez declined comment.

Bradley and Martinez are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, while Martinez is also charged with false statements and false declaration to a grand jury. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their trial had been scheduled to begin in March after their lawyers had requested continuances.

But this week federal prosecutors filed a motion seeking a continuance stating they were providing the defense with additional material —“more than 1000 pages of financial records inadvertently excluded from its prior productions.”

According to the indictment affidavit, Bradley “and others entered into a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission, the Citizens’ Election Fund and the State of Connecticut by making misrepresentations concerning Bradley’s compliance with state election law and the Citizens’ Election Program’s statutory restrictions and requirements in order to fraudulently obtain or attempt to obtain $179,850 in campaign grants.”

“It is alleged that these defendants not only broke the rules at the outset of Mr. Bradley’s first campaign for the state Senate, but then engaged in an extensive cover up to conceal their illegal behavior and to receive additional public funds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Leonard Boyle.

Bradley, a Democrat who represents Bridgeport and Stratford, was first elected to represent the 23rd Senate District in 2018. He is up for reelection in November.

Martinez’s term on the Bridgeport school board ended last year and she did not run for reelection.

Tina Manus, a volunteer for the 2018 Bradley senate campaign, later admitted to a wire fraud charge before Judge Victor Bolden.

According to an earlier press release from the U.S. Justice Department, Manus has agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation and has been released on $150,000 bond.