A former bureau chief at the Bronx district attorney’s office was fired after abusing her position by pushing subordinates to vote for her in a “Fab Over 40” beauty contest, the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board said.
Jessica Rosado acknowledged her wrongdoing in a settlement with the government ethics board that was released on Thursday. As chief of the crime victims assistance bureau in the Bronx DA’s office, she repeatedly messaged her underlings over more than a month last year, asking them to vote online for her in the contest, according to the settlement. The winner was to receive prizes, including $40,000 in cash, a “spa-cation,” and the opportunity to be featured in a magazine.
At least 17 of Rosado’s subordinates voted for her. Four of them donated a combined total of $81 to buy extra votes under the contest’s rules, according to the settlement. Rosado used her Bronx DA email account to send 37 employees a link to her contest page in October 2023, telling them to “vote daily if you are so inclined.”
“Feel free to share with your friends/family,” she wrote to her subordinates.
That same day, she also created a group chat on WhatsApp by using at least 22 of her underlings’ personal cellphone numbers.
“Hello from The Mediterranean Sea,” Rosado wrote in a message to the group on Nov. 13, 2023, according to the settlement. “I have limited service but wanted to remind you to continue to vote for me every 24hrs [smiley face emoji]. This week is very important. Top 5. Thank you team!”
“Oh and have you voted today[?]” she wrote in an email to 38 Bronx DA employees the following week. “Please vote every 24 hrs and share with friends and family if you’re so inclined.”
Rosado was terminated on April 5, 2024, due to her conduct, a spokesperson for the DA’s office said. She began working there in October 2021 and public records show she made $160,000 last year.
She could not be reached for comment on Monday.
The ethics board determined that Rosado’s termination was punishment enough and declined to impose additional penalties. She was found to have violated a section of the city’s conflicts of interest law that says no public servant can use or attempt to use their government position to obtain any financial gain or personal advantage.