A former New Jersey mayor, who faced corruption charges, is now facing a new indictment for allegedly attempting to bypass his banishment from office. The indictment was returned by a Trenton grand jury on Tuesday, charging former Paterson Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres with criminal contempt, according to the Daily Voice. In 2017, Torres admitted to employing public workers at a private liquor distribution warehouse, funded by city taxpayers through overtime pay, which led to his initial conviction. He was sentenced to five years in state prison and barred from seeking public employment again.
After serving a 13-month sentence, Torres announced his candidacy for mayor of Paterson once again in early 2022. However, his nomination petitions were rejected by the city clerk, prompting him to file a lawsuit that was eventually dismissed. Attorney General Matthew Platkin states, as per the Paterson Times, “It takes remarkable brashness to flout a state court order and then attempt to strong-arm the city clerk, via civil litigation, into allowing an impermissible campaign to proceed. According to the grand jury, it is also indictable.”
Thomas Eicher, executive director of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability, which conducted the investigation, emphasizes that Torres’ alleged defiance of the law illustrates his unsuitability for future public office. If convicted, Torres could face up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. (Read more New Jersey stories.)
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