PATERSON, NJ – Former Jackson Township Business Administrator quit his post abruptly to become mayor of Paterson. He was later arrested, charged and convicted of political corruption. Now, he’s in trouble again.
Former Paterson Mayor Joey Torres has been indicted on a criminal contempt-of-court charge after allegedly violating a 2017 court order that barred him from seeking or holding public office. The indictment comes after Torres announced his intentions to run for mayor of Paterson in 2022, which directly contravenes the previous court ruling.
The state grand jury’s decision to charge Torres follows a comprehensive review of his actions in the 2022 mayoral campaign. In 2017, Torres pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. The misconduct involved directing city employees to work at a private warehouse connected to his family, with the city covering the employees’ overtime pay.
As part of the 2017 guilty plea, Torres agreed to a forfeiture order that permanently disqualified him from holding public office in New Jersey. Despite this, Torres publicly announced his candidacy on February 12, 2022, and later submitted nominating petitions to the Paterson City Clerk’s Office. After the clerk rejected these petitions, Torres filed a civil action, claiming he would be irreparably harmed if denied the opportunity to run.
The case stems from an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s Corruption Bureau. Officials from the bureau emphasized the gravity of Torres’s alleged actions, citing it as a clear example of why he should not hold public office.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Brian Kenney, supervised by the bureau’s senior staff. Further developments are anticipated as the legal process unfolds.