A former top official with the Bronx DA’s office abused her position by improperly pressuring dozens of staffers to back her for the “Fab Over 40” contest that bestows a $40,000 prize and a ” luxury spacation” on the winner, the city Conflict of Interest Board disclosed Thursday.
Jessica Rosado, the chief of the Crime Victims Assistance Bureau, relentlessly emailed underlings at the office to vote for her and contribute funds for the contest, the COIB stated.
“Have you voted for me today,” she wrote in an email to 38 DA’s office underlings. “Please vote every 24 hours and share with friends and family if so inclined.”
The group text messages sent between Oct. 10, 2023 and Nov. 20, 2023 often were sent to the personal cell phones of the staffers.
“Hello from the Mediterranean Sea. I have limited service, but I wanted to remind you to continue to vote for me every 24 hours,” she wrote Nov. 13, 2023. “This week is very important. Top 5. Thank you team!”
Seventeen employees at Bronx DA Darcel Clark’s office did vote for her and four contributed a total of $81 to her campaign.
Rosado was fired April 5 for violating a city law which states that no public official can use their office for financial gain or any other personal or private advantage, the COIB decision states.
Public disclosure of her misconduct was part of the settlement in addition to the firing, the decision states.
The “Fab Over 40” contest is sponsored by NewBeauty magazine. Its slogan is “Age is a number, Fabulous is a feeling.”
“One lovely lady over 40 will grace the cover of NewBeauty Magazine, enjoy a luxury spa-cation, and take home $40,000,” the website states.
The DA’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
