A correctional officer from Passaic County has admitted to assaulting a pretrial detainee and conspiring to obstruct justice. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba made the announcement regarding Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty on May 28, 2025, in Newark federal court. The charges against him include deprivation of rights under color of law and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
Court documents reveal that on January 22, 2021, a detainee at Passaic County Jail squirted a mixture containing urine onto an officer. The next day, Gonzalez, along with Sergeant Donald Vinales and Correctional Officer Lorenzo Bowden, transported the detainee to an area without video surveillance known as a “blind spot.” There, Gonzalez and Vinales assaulted the handcuffed detainee by knocking him down and striking him multiple times. The injuries were documented when the detainee was taken to a local hospital the following day.
The officers involved failed to submit required documentation regarding their use of force. In March 2022, Gonzalez made false statements during an interview with federal law enforcement officers. Following grand jury subpoenas in April 2022, Gonzalez, Vinales, Bowden, and others agreed not to cooperate with the investigation and falsely claimed that no assault occurred.
Officer Bowden pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, to conspiracy to obstruct justice and is awaiting sentencing. Sergeant Vinales also pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025, to similar charges and awaits sentencing.
The maximum penalty for deprivation of rights under color of law is ten years in prison while conspiracy to obstruct justice carries up to twenty years. Both charges include fines up to $250,000. Gonzalez’s sentencing is set for October 22, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Habba credited FBI special agents 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 for their roles in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin and Senior Trial Counsel R. Joseph Gribko represent the government in this case.
Defense counsel for Gonzalez is Valerie Palma DeLuisi from Clifton, New Jersey.
