A resident of Passaic County has confessed to using an explosive to damage a Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, New Jersey. This development was announced by U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.
Nicolas Torres, 42, from Passaic, New Jersey, admitted to the charge before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals. The charge involved using an explosive to damage property used in interstate commerce.
Court documents and statements reveal that on July 5, 2022, Torres was recorded on surveillance video near the ATM. He ignited an item in front of the machine, resulting in an explosion moments later, and was seen fleeing with two others.
Investigations highlighted Torres's mobile phone location data, which placed him at the scene. It also emerged that he had bought approximately $1,000 worth of fireworks from Pennsylvania the day before the explosion.
The charge against Torres entails a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison, along with a potential fine of $250,000. The sentencing is set for September 9, 2025.
Special agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Newark Field Division, led by Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the Prospect Park Police Department, led by Chief William Rausch, were involved in the investigation.
The prosecution is managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky from the U.S. Attorney’s National Security Unit in Newark.
Defense for Torres is provided by Adalgiza A. Núñez from the Office of the Public Defender.
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