PATERSON, NJ – Former Paterson Mayor Joey Torres pleaded guilty yesterday to violating a court-ordered forfeiture that permanently barred him from seeking or holding public office. Torres now faces probation as part of a plea agreement with the state, though the final decision rests with Superior Court Judge Marilyn Clark, who will sentence him in the coming weeks.
Torres, who resigned as mayor in 2018 after a corruption conviction, was charged 14 months ago with knowingly disobeying the lifetime ban. The charges stemmed from his attempt to challenge Mayor Andre Sayegh in the May 2022 election. Torres filed petitions to run for office and later sued the city clerk after his candidacy was rejected.
Attorney General Matthew Platkin, in a statement following the plea, emphasized the importance of enforcing forfeiture orders to maintain public trust. “After his first conviction, the defendant had fair warning that any future attempt to return to public office or employment would result in a criminal charge. But he tried to run for his old seat anyway,” Platkin said. “The conviction secured by OPIA’s Corruption Bureau sends the message that, when state law and the court say a disqualification is forever, they mean it.”
The plea deal negotiated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) spares Torres further jail time, pending Judge Clark’s approval. Torres previously served a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of directing municipal workers to complete personal construction projects at his home and a family-leased warehouse.
The case represents a significant victory for OPIA’s Corruption Bureau, led by Deputy Chief Frank Valdinati and Co-Director Jeffrey Manis. Earlier this month, Judge Clark rejected Torres’ motion to dismiss the indictment, setting the stage for today’s resolution.
Torres’ court appearance comes during a time of personal hardship, as his brother Samuel, a former Paterson police officer, passed away just four days earlier.
The guilty plea marks a dramatic chapter in Torres’ storied and controversial career, serving as a reminder of the lasting consequences of public corruption.
