STATEN ISLAND — A stalker volunteering for a political opponent mailed creepy messages to a Staten Island assemblyman — but led police straight to herself by writing her name and return address on the envelopes, the NYPD said.
Marylynn Cellamare, 55, of Port Richmond, sent several packages to Assemblyman Ron Castorina Jr. and his family's homes and called him on the phone last week, prosecutors said.
Cellamare volunteers for the campaign of Janine Materna, who's seeking the Republican nomination over Castorina in a special election being held in September, the New York Post reported.
On Aug. 9, Cellamare sent several packages — with her Lexington Avenue address and her name on the envelope — through FedEx addressed to Castorina. It had a single-sheet of paper inside with the word "greeting" written on it, prosecutors said.
Then on Friday, Cellamare called the freshman Assemblyman and continually said "Mr. Castorina, Mr. Castorina, Hello," over the phone, prosecutors said.
Cellamare was arrested Saturday and admitted to officers that she had sent the packages, but said she didn't remember calling Casotrina, according to court documents.
"I don't recall calling the Assemblyman, but I might have," Cellamare told officers, according to court documents.
"I never left the house. I don't reside with anyone except my dog."
The letters were sent to Castorina's home, his parents house and his New Jersey summer home, the Staten Island Advance reported.
"It caused my mom and dad a lot of grief and fear and concern," Castorina told the paper.
Castorina could not be reached for comment Monday.
Cellamare told the Post that she wasn't trying to threaten or scare Castorina but was "investigating election fraud."
She said he has one residence registered with the Board of Elections and another listed as his primary address so she sent the letters to see "who would sign and which would come back," the Post reported.
“He’s a 36-year-old man threatened by a 55-year-old disabled woman? Are you kidding me?” Cellamare told the Post.
Cellamare was charged with aggravated harassment and stalking at her arraignment, according to the Staten Island District Attorney's office. She was released without bail and is due back in court on Oct. 11.
She and her lawyer could not be reached for comment Monday.
