Torres sentencing delayed
By Jayed Rahman
Published: November 2, 2017
The sentencing of former former mayor Jose “Joey” Torres has been postponed from this Friday to Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, according to the Hudson County Superior Court judge Sheila Venable’s chambers.
Torres pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy in late September for using public works employees to renovate a building leased by his daughter and nephew. Under the plea deal, the three-term former mayor is barred from holding. He also had to give up his seat as mayor.
Three public works supervisors – Joseph Mania, 51, of Randolph; Imad Mowaswes, 53, of Clifton; and Timothy Hanlon, 31, of Woodland Park – also took guilty pleas. The three men supervised municipal employees that handled painting, carpentry, and electrical work at the private warehouse located at 82 East 15th Street for a planned beer distribution facility.
The plan never fully materialized after the family failed to secure needed permits, said authorities.
Mania, Mowaswes, and Hanlon collected overtime pay for the renovation work. Mania falsified time-sheets that resulted in municipal taxpayers picking up the tab for the mayor’s family, according to prosecutors.
Torres held onto the mayor’s seat for two days after pleading guilty. He resigned before a judge ordered forfeiture of his office. Council president Ruby Cotton assumed the office. The council later appointed Jane Williams-Warren to take up the post.
Torres’ sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m., according to the court.
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