Fidelina Santiago, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts each of voting unlawfully, interfering with a voter, and obstructing voting tied to Lawrence's 2023 municipal election. Prosecutors declined to pursue four additional conspiracy or attempted illegal voting counts. Santiago was indicted after winning a council seat; co-defendant Jennifer Lopez remains under indictment and did not appear for a scheduled plea change, leaving her not-guilty plea unchanged. The Secretary of the Commonwealth's office alerted prosecutors, and published video footage appeared to show a woman removing mail-in ballots. Santiago has no prior criminal history. A sentencing memorandum requests probation, immediate resignation, a ban on reelection, and community service; sentencing is set for October.
A sitting Lawrence city councilor pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges in court Wednesday stemming from the city's 2023 municipal election, prosecutors announced. Fidelina Santiago, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts of voting unlawfully, four counts of interfering with a voter, and four counts of obstructing voting, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said. Prosecutors said they chose not to move forward with four additional counts of conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally.
Lopez was scheduled to appear for a change of plea hearing Wednesday but didn't show, according to court records. As of Thursday evening, her plea of not guilty was unchanged. Officials began investigating the incident after the Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin's office alerted prosecutors to allegations of fraudulent voting in 2023, Boston.com previously reported. NBC10 Boston published video footage that appeared to show a woman removing mail-in ballots from a mailbox outside a Lawrence home.
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