Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of FRANCESCO CARAMAGNA (DOB: 04/11/1945; married; retired) of 126 Gilbert Ave., Elmwood Park, N.J. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Robert ANZILOTTI.

In early April of 2019, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office received a complaint against CARAMAGNA, the Mayor of Elmwood Park, alleging that he interfered with the election process with regard to applications for Vote by Mail Ballots in the 2017 mayoral election in Elmwood Park, NJ.

BCPO detectives conducted an investigation which revealed that on or about, during and between March of 2017 and November of 2018, CARAMAGNA, a mayoral candidate, had interfered with the secrecy of the election process by completing portions of the Application for Vote by Mail Ballot, Primary Election Ballot Certifications and General Election Ballot Certifications of registered voters in the Borough of Elmwood Park, NJ.

CARAMAGNA resigned as Mayor of Elmwood Park, N.J. on April 28, 2019.

As a result of the investigation, CARAMAGNA was charged on April 29, 2019 with one count of Interfering with the Secrecy of the Election Process in violation of N.J.S.A. 19:63-28A, a 3rd degree crime. Mr. CARAMAGNA is scheduled for a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.

Acting Prosecutor Calo states that this charge is merely an accusation and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.