PATERSON, NJ — Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez, his wife Yohanny Mendez, and three associates are facing expanded criminal charges in connection with an alleged vote-by-mail ballot fraud scheme from the May 2020 municipal election, according to New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA).
A new 10-count indictment builds on prior charges first filed in 2021, with updated allegations stemming from an extended investigation and additional complaints filed in October 2023. The indictment outlines a deliberate plan to manipulate mail-in voting to help Mendez retain his Third Ward council seat during a time when elections in New Jersey were held exclusively by mail due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to investigators, Mendez, his wife, and campaign workers Omar Ledesma and Iris Rigo allegedly stole ballots, forged voter signatures, and submitted falsified vote-by-mail applications. Authorities discovered hundreds of improperly stored ballots in a postal drop box in Haledon, raising red flags that led to the expanded probe.
In addition to previously filed charges of:
Election Fraud (second degree)
Tampering with Public Records (third degree)
Forgery (third degree)
Falsifying Records (fourth degree)
The superseding indictment now includes:
Theft (third degree)
Receiving Stolen Property (third degree)
Witness Tampering (third degree)
Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution (third degree)
Also charged is Ninoska Adames, who faces allegations of both witness tampering and public records tampering.
If convicted, the most serious charges carry 5 to 10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000. Third-degree offenses can result in up to 5 years imprisonment and $15,000 in fines, while fourth-degree charges are punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorneys General Diana Bibb and Lisa Cialino, under the direction of senior officials at OPIA. The investigation remains ongoing.
All individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.