New Jersey

Another Paterson Cop Pleads Guilty to Corruption

What to Know

  • Another officer with a northern New Jersey police department has admitted his role in a conspiracy
  • The conspiracy involved illegal searches and vehicle stops, thefts from drug suspects and assaults; Other officers were also involved
  • 32-year-old Daniel Pent faces up to 40 years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 14

Another officer with a northern New Jersey police department has admitted his role in a conspiracy that involved illegal searches and vehicle stops, thefts from drug suspects and assaults.

Paterson officer Daniel Pent pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to violate individuals' civil rights, using unreasonable and excessive force and filing a false police report. The 32-year-old Paterson resident faces up to 40 years in prison when he's sentenced Jan. 14.

In one instance in February 2017, federal prosecutors say Pent and another officer, Eudy Ramos, took $10,000 from a suspected drug dealer. Pent later filed a report saying the man had $36 in his possession.

Pent and other officers also routinely delivered a "running tax" to people they arrested. If someone ran, the officers would strike them multiple times, causing bodily injury.

In September, Ramos also pleaded guilty to using excessive force on people he stopped and filing false police reports to cover up his criminal activity.

Ramos was accused of violating people's civil rights in an elaborate scheme with other officers using code words to steal cash.

Ramos is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8, 2020, where he faces up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000.

Pent is one of a staggering number of Paterson cops who have been arrested in an ongoing probe.

Frank Toledo, 30, also pleaded guilty in July to a three-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to violate individuals’ civil rights, using unreasonable and excessive force in violation of individuals’ civil rights, and filing a false police report in connection to participating in illegal traffic stops and shakedowns, according to federal prosecutors.

Matthew Torres pleaded guilty May 13 to civil rights crimes related to illegal traffic stops and shakedowns, NorthJersey.com reported

Jonathan Bustios pleaded guilty December 2018 to violating civil rights and extortion.

In March, former Paterson officer Ruben McAusland was sentenced to 66 months in prison for dealing drugs – including some he stole from a crime scene while on duty – and taking part in the unrelated assault of the hospital patient.

That same month, another Paterson cop was accused of violating people’s civil rights in an elaborate scheme using code words to steal cash, prosecutors said.

On May 30, 2018, a police officer was arrested for allegedly assaulting a patient at a Paterson hospital, recording the incident on his cellphone and failing to include the assault in the related police report.

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