Lawrence city councilor pleads guilty to voter fraud in election that put her in office

A Lawrence city councilor has pleaded guilty to voter fraud charges that tie back to the 2023 municipal election in which she was first elected to office, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office.

District A Councilor Fidelina Santiago, 41, pleaded guilty to four counts each of voting unlawfully, interfering with a voter and obstructing voting on Wednesday in Essex County Superior Court, the district attorney's office said in a Thursday press release. Prosecutors in the case decided to drop an additional four counts of conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally.

Santiago did not immediately respond to a request for comment on her guilty plea Thursday afternoon.

The case was referred to the district attorney's office by Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin's office, the district attorney's office said. Authorities have not specified how Santiago committed these offenses.

Santiago beat her opponent in the November 2023 election by about 16 points, according to the city of Lawrence's official election results ,

Santiago is due back in court for sentencing on Oct. 9.

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