Passaic Man Pleads Guilty to ATM Explosion

A 42-year-old Passaic County man has admitted to using explosives to damage a Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of July 5, 2022. Nicolas Torres of Passaic pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals to one count of using an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce, according to U.S. Attorney Alina Habba.

Torres, who faces a minimum of five years and maximum of 20 years in prison when sentenced on September 9, was captured on surveillance video igniting an explosive device in front of the ATM before fleeing with two unidentified accomplices.

Surveillance and Phone Evidence

Court documents revealed that Torres was clearly identified in surveillance footage approaching the Chase Bank ATM and igniting an item that subsequently exploded. Investigators strengthened their case using cellular phone location data that placed Torres in the vicinity of the bank at the time of the explosion, according to Legal Newsline.

Further investigation uncovered that Torres had traveled to Pennsylvania the day before the incident and purchased approximately $1,000 worth of fireworks, which authorities believe were used to create the explosive device.

From Charges to Guilty Plea

Torres was initially charged in March 2024 with using an explosive to damage real property used in interstate commerce and possession of an unregistered firearm, namely a destructive device. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court at that time and was ordered detained, according to RLS Media.

The case progressed from investigation to guilty plea in just over a year, with Torres accepting responsibility for his actions during last week’s court appearance.

Law Enforcement Coordination

The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the Prospect Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Rausch.

U.S. Attorney Habba commended the collaboration between federal and local agencies, noting that the quick identification and apprehension of the suspect demonstrated effective information sharing between law enforcement entities.

ATM Attacks on the Rise

Law enforcement officials have noted an increase in ATM attacks across the region, with methods ranging from physical removal attempts to explosive devices. The FBI has been tracking this trend, which represents a significant public safety concern beyond the property damage.

While this case involved no reported injuries, authorities emphasized that explosives at public facilities pose serious risks to bystanders and responding officers.