Nelson Castro (politician)
{{Short description|American politician (born 1972)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Nelson Castro
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| state_assembly = New York
| district = 86th
| term_start = 2009
| term_end = 2013
| predecessor = Luis Diaz
| successor = Victor M. Pichardo
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|01|25}}
| birth_place =
| party = Democrat
| otherparty =
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| occupation = politician
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Nelson Castro (born January 25, 1972){{citation needed|date=September 2019}} is an American politician from the state of New York. A Democrat, he was first elected to the New York State Assembly in District 86 in 2008. Castro resigned from office in 2013 after pleading guilty to perjury charges. He is notable for having worn a wire as an FBI informant while serving in elected office; in so doing, he assisted the federal government in prosecuting other corrupt elected officials.
Political career
In 2008, Castro was first elected to the New York State Assembly in District 86;{{cite news|last=Weiser|first=Benjamin|title=Former Assemblyman Turned Informer Avoids Prison|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/nyregion/former-assemblyman-turned-informant-avoids-prison.html|work=The New York Times|date=September 12, 2014|page=A28|access-date=June 27, 2020}} the district includes the University Heights, Tremont, and Fordham sections of the Bronx.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gothamgazette.com/129-elections/4521-the-castro-legacy-corruption-haunts-assembly-district-race|title=The Castro Legacy: Corruption Haunts Assembly District Race|first=David Howard|last=King|website=Gotham Gazette}} He succeeded Luis Diaz and became the first Dominican to represent the Bronx in the State Assembly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.norwoodnews.org/hector-ramirez-to-challenge-nelson-castro-in-86th-assembly-district/|title=Hector Ramirez to Challenge Nelson Castro in 86th Assembly District|publisher=Norwood News|date=December 3, 2009|access-date=June 27, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.norwoodnews.org/under-indictment-castro-helps-build-corruption-case/|title=Under Indictment, Castro Helps Build Corruption Case|publisher=Norwood News|date=April 22, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2020}} In July 2009, the Bronx County District Attorney charged Castro with perjury.{{Cite news|last1=Weiser|first1=Benjamin|last2=Santora|first2=Marc|title=In 2nd Alleged Bribe Scheme, a Legislator Was in on the Case|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/nyregion/assemblyman-eric-stevenson-is-accused-of-taking-bribes.html|work=The New York Times|date=April 5, 2013|page=A1|access-date=June 27, 2020}} The charges were kept secret, and Castro agreed to cooperate with the Bronx County District Attorney and later with the FBI. Castro proceeded to win re-election in 2010 and 2012, but was living a "double life" as an FBI informant during that time.{{Cite news|last=Hu|first=Winnie|title=Informer in Assembly, Accused of Perjury, Apologizes|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/11/nyregion/informer-in-assembly-accused-of-perjury-apologizes.html|date=April 11, 2013|page=A19|access-date=June 27, 2020}} Information obtained by Castro was used to prosecute six other corrupt elected officials. While Castro's original deal did not involve jail time, he was charged in 2013 with lying to investigators. In 2013, Castro's role as an FBI informant became public knowledge during the scandal affecting his Assembly colleague, Eric Stevenson. Castro resigned his Assembly seat on April 8, 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nelson-casto-crimes-prepped-politics-article-1.1308356|title=Nelson Castro's life of crime primed him for a career in politics|first=Juan|last=Gonzalez|publisher=New York Daily News|website=nydailynews.com|date=April 5, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2020}} He later pleaded guilty to the 2009 state charges and the 2013 federal charge against him. In September 2014, Castro received a sentence of two years' probation and 500 hours of community service for his federal crimes. On November 17, 2014, Castro was given a three-year conditional discharge for his state crimes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/tarnished-bronx-lawmaker-dodges-prison-time-perjury-article-1.2014121|title=Tarnished Bronx politician, Albany informer Nelson Castro escapes prison for perjury, vows new career selling lightbulbs|first=Ben|last=Kochman|publisher=New York Daily News|website=nydailynews.com|date=November 17, 2014|access-date=June 27, 2020}}
References
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{{Portal|Biography}}
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{{succession box|title=New York State Assembly, 86th District|before=Luis Diaz|years=2009–2013|after=Victor M. Pichardo}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Castro, Nelson}}
Category:American politicians of Dominican Republic descent
Category:American Seventh-day Adventists
Category:Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly
Category:Politicians from the Bronx
Category:New York (state) politicians convicted of corruption
Category:New York (state) politicians convicted of crimes
Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in New York (state)
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature