A correctional officer from Passaic County has admitted to assaulting a pretrial detainee and conspiring to obstruct justice. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced that Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, aged 46, pleaded guilty on May 28, 2025, in Newark federal court before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz. Gonzalez faced charges of deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
The incident began on January 22, 2021, when a detainee at the Passaic County Jail allegedly squirted a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. The following day, Gonzalez, along with Sergeant Donald Vinales and Correctional Officer Lorenzo Bowden—who were also charged—transported the detainee to an area without video surveillance known as a "blind spot." In this location, Gonzalez and Vinales assaulted the handcuffed detainee by knocking him down and striking him multiple times. The detainee was later hospitalized for injuries from the assault.
The officers involved did not submit required documentation regarding their use of force. In March 2022, Gonzalez admitted to making false statements during an interview with federal law enforcement officers about the investigation. Further complicating matters, in April 2022, after receiving grand jury subpoenas related to the case, Gonzalez and others met to discuss the investigation and agreed not to cooperate or disclose information about the assault.
Officer Bowden previously pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, before Judge Farbiarz for conspiracy to obstruct justice and is awaiting sentencing. Similarly, Sergeant Vinales pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025.
The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law could result in up to ten years in prison while conspiracy to obstruct justice carries a potential sentence of up to twenty years in prison. Both charges may also include fines up to $250,000 each. Sentencing for Gonzalez is set for October 22, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents from the FBI led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs under Sheriff Thomas Adamo's direction for their work on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin and Senior Trial Counsel R. Joseph Gribko are representing the government in this matter.
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