Police Officer From Union County Admits Accepting Corrupt Payment

RAHWAY, NJ — A Rahway man and Jersey City police officer admitted 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, 41, of Rahway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Friday before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud and accept corrupt payments.

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.

Berrios faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Berrios will forfeit $50,000. His sentencing is scheduled for April 16.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.