Cop From Union County Sentenced For Accepting Corrupt Payments

RAHWAY, NJ — A Rahway man who is also a Jersey City police officer was sentenced to 23 months in prison for accepting corrupt payments in exchange for helping employers operate at worksites without the required presence of an off-duty police officer, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Juan Berrios, 42, previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and accept corrupt payments. U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez imposed the sentence Tuesday in Newark federal court.

• See Related: Police Officer From Union County Admits Accepting Corrupt Payment

Berrios had served as a police officer with the Jersey City Police Department from 2004 to 2017.

Jersey City's municipal code did not allow police officers to directly accept cash payments from employers and instead would collect the money and then pay the off-duty officers, minus certain fees, taxes and deductions.

Berrios on the other hand took the payments directly, cutting Jersey City out of the process, according to documents filed in this case and statements made in court.

Berrios would then all off-duty employers to operate at worksites without the presence of a police officer, which was required, according to the report.

He also would submit off-duty vouchers for compensation from the city for working as a traffic director or security guard and even received overtime pay when he was supposedly performing off-duty work but was actually appearing in court at the same time, the report stated.

In addition to the prison term, Berrios was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of $50,000 and restitution of $34,951.

Former Chief of Police Phil Zacche pled guilty to similar charges early in January.

• Read More: Ex-Jersey City Police Chief, Manalapan Resident, Admits To Theft

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