Busted Bronx Politician Faces Possible Perjury Charges

Election fraud by a politican? You don't say. You're hard pressed to find the political affiliation Nelson Castro anywhere in the New York Daily News article either. He's a Democrat.

The charges against Assemblyman Nelson Castro are expected sometime this or next week, sources told The News.

Castro was accused in last September's primary of electoral shenanigans after nine voters were found to be registered to his one-bedroom flat in the west Bronx.

A judge still cleared him to run - and he won the 86th Assembly District. Opponents complained later that he lied under oath when he said he was unaware of the registration situation.

It turned out some of the nine were his and his girlfriend's relatives. The alleged lies under oath are what now have Castro in hot water and facing possible criminal charges, sources said.

A spokesman for Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson had no comment.

Castro, former chief of staff for Manhattan Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, was designated by then-Bronx Democratic Party boss Jose Rivera to run for the seat after Assemblyman Luis Diaz stepped down to work for Gov. Paterson.

Castro, 37, immediately was criticized after it was disclosed he had a criminal record for collecting unemployment while he had a job and that he was also facing trial at the time for a string of unpaid traffic tickets and driving with a revoked license.

For those who aren't paying attention, all those involved here are Democrats. Castro wasn't exactly a winner even before joining the Assembly as he had a criminal record and shows a casual disregard for the law.