Hartford, Conn., mayor and 3 others arraigned for alleged roles in corruption probe

Hartford mayor arraigned on extortion charge

HARTFORD, Conn. — The mayor of Hartford, Conn., and three others charged in a corruption investigation last week have made a brief appearance before a state judge.

Mayor Eddie Perez, former state Rep. Abraham Giles, Hartford City Councilwoman Veronica Airey-Wilson and Farmington businessman Carlos Lopez did not speak during their arraignments Tuesday.

Perez and Giles are charged with attempted extortion and conspiracy for allegedly trying to extort $250,000 from a real estate developer. They deny the charges.

Airey-Wilson is charged with tampering with evidence, and Lopez is charged with fraudulent voting.

They are due back in court on Friday.

Perez’s corruption arrest was his second this year. He was charged in January with taking a bribe from a city contractor.