FBI Raids Paterson, N.J., Mayor's Office

While top city officials were on retreat at a Poconos resort, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Paterson Mayor Joey Torres’ City Hall office Thursday evening, capping a daylong hunt for documents in a fraud investigation involving the use of federal funds for a controversial prison-reentry project, city officials said.

 

As FBI agents combed through city files, the mayor’s office issued a statement attributed to Torres, who was at the Pennsylvania retreat, that said the city “is aware of the presence of federal officials at the community development offices.”

Several FBI agents entered the city’s community development offices across from City Hall this morning.

Torres’ statement acknowledged that the FBI is seeking information about grant subsidies awarded to the Center of Hope prison reentry program on Montgomery Street, in the city’s impoverished and crime-plagued 4th Ward.

 

“As always, the city will cooperate with any requests for information,” read the statement. “We are confident that the federal officials will be satisfied with the city of Paterson’s adherence to any and all federal regulations.”