NJ Zoning Inspector Forged Phony Permits For Cash

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Passaic County zoning inspector is facing prison time after he and co-conspirators were caught faking zoning permits for cash, authorities say.

Jose Fermin, 54, of Prospect Park, pleaded guilty this week to conspiracy to commit official misconduct.

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According to court documents, between December 2020 and February 2022, Fermin and co-conspirators were providing Paterson city permit applicants with phony zoning permits for cash.

Forging signatures of the Paterson Planning and Zoning Director, the trio even said they would provide the phony permits to people who didn’t even apply for them.

Fermin’s co-conspirators, Jose Juan Guerrero-Cruz, 46, of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, and Alfonlly Monegro-Camilo, 28, of Paterson, also pleaded guilty to similar charges.

Fermin will likely spend three years in prison, according to prosecutors. Additionally, he was forced to forfeit all public employment and will be permanently disqualified from holding any future public office or employment in New Jersey.