Nelson Castro

Nelson Castro 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 another politician.

Early life In 2004, Castro was charged with grand larceny because he collected $5,000 in unemployment checks while in fact he had a job.

Political career

In 2008, Castro was first elected to the New York State Assembly in District 86; the district included the University Heights, Tremont, and Fordham sections of the Bronx. He succeeded Luis Diaz and became the first Dominican to represent the Bronx in the New York State Assembly. Castro resigned his Assembly seat on April 8, 2013.

Legal troubles and work as an FBI informant

In July 2009, the Bronx County District Attorney charged Castro with perjury. The charges were kept secret, and Castro agreed to cooperate with the Bronx County District Attorney and later with the FBI. Information obtained by Castro was used to prosecute his fellow assemblymember, Eric Stevenson.

In 2013, Castro's role as an FBI informant became public knowledge during a scandal affecting Stevenson.