Judge continues Bradley, Martinez campaign fraud trial
BRIDGEPORT — State Sen. Dennis Bradley and city Board of Education member Jessica Martinez, charged with campaign financing fraud, have been granted a continuance in their federal trial until February.
Martinez’s public defender had requested the continuance.
“On June 9, 2021, the government provided initial discovery, which was extremely voluminous, to defense counsel. On Aug. 16, 2021, the government provided additional discovery. On Oct. 19, 2021, the government indicated that additional discovery is forthcoming,” the request stated.
“The court finds that denying the requested continuance would deny reasonable time necessary for Defendant's counsel to review discovery, confer with Ms. Martinez, and appropriately respond to the charge in this matter,” said U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden on Wednesday. He continued the case to Feb. 7.
“I have no comment, I’ll wait until trial,” Martinez told Hearst Connecticut Media.
While Bradley’s lawyer had not requested a continuance from the Dec. 6 trial date, the judge ruled that because he and Martinez are co-defendants, his case too would be continued.
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.
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.
Last week Tina Manus, a volunteer for the 2018 Bradley senate campaign, admitted to a wire fraud charge before Judge Victor Bolden.
According to a Wednesday 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.
“Manus conspired with Bradley, his former campaign treasurer, Jessica Martinez, and others to defraud the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC), the Citizens’ Election Fund, and the state of Connecticut by making misrepresentations concerning compliance with state election law,” the press release stated.