NEWARK, N.J. – A City of Paterson police officer today admitted
violating an individual’s civil rights by assaulting him at a hospital and
repeatedly distributing narcotics, including drugs he stole from a crime scene
while on duty, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Ruben McAusland, 26, of Paterson, pleaded guilty before U.S.
District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to an information
charging him with possessing with intent to distribute narcotics and
deprivation of civil rights under color of law.
“McAusland’s conduct breached his duties as an officer of
the law and violated the public trust,” U.S. Attorney Carpenito said. “He dealt
drugs, stole from a crime scene, and viciously attacked an individual who
contacted the Paterson Police Department rightfully expecting to receive
assistance and protection from McAusland and his partner. The people of
Paterson, and all of New Jersey, deserve better. This Office remains strongly
committed to identifying and rooting out corrupt police officers and bringing
them to justice under federal law.”
“Police Officers take a solemn oath to uphold the law and to
protect the public. The few who take advantage of this public trust, at any
level, will be investigated by the FBI and prosecuted to the fullest extent of
the law. This officer not only violated his pledge but tarnished the reputation
of all law enforcement by his grievous lawlessness,” said Special Agent in
Charge Gregory W. Ehrie of the Newark FBI Field Office.
According to documents filed in this and another case, and
statements made in court:
Between October 2017 and April 2018, McAusland sold various
types and quantities of narcotics to an individual who was cooperating with law
enforcement. In October 2017, McAusland sold the individual approximately 35
grams of marijuana, 48 grams of heroin, 31 grams of cocaine, and 31 grams of
crack cocaine. McAusland admitted that he stole these narcotics from a crime
scene while on duty and in uniform as a police officer.
McAusland also sold the individual two pounds of marijuana
between November 2017 and January 2018. In addition, on multiple occasions
between February 2018 and April 2018, McAusland sold pills that were made to
resemble Percocet doses but were actually made of heroin.
On March 5, 2018, McAusland and his partner, Roger Then, 29,
of Paterson, were on duty and responded to a call from an attempted suicide
victim. McAusland and Then first went to the victim’s house but were told the
victim had been transported to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Paterson.
McAusland first met the victim, who was in a wheelchair, in
the hospital waiting room. McAusland admitted that during the encounter, he
pushed the victim and punched him in the face. In addition, Then allegedly
grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed him into the ground. Afterwards, the
victim was taken to a hospital patient room.
McAusland and Then had another encounter with the victim in
the hospital room, which Then recorded on his cellphone. McAusland admitted
that, while the victim was on his back in a hospital bed, he put on a pair of
hospital gloves and violently struck the victim twice across the face.
McAusland and Then filed a false police report in connection
with the foregoing events. McAusland admitted that they purposely omitted from
the repot the fact that McAusland violently struck the victim multiple times
and that Then grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed him into the ground.
The victim suffered multiple injuries to his face, including
an eye injury that required surgery, as a result of these assaults.
The distribution of narcotics charge carries a mandatory
minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40
years in prison, and a $5 million fine. The deprivation of civil rights count
carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2018.
Then was arrested May 30, 2018 and charged by complaint with
conspiring to violate an individual’s civil rights and with misprision of
felony for concealing civil rights violations. The charges and allegations
against him are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI,
under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie in Newark, with
the investigation leading to today’s plea. He also thanked the Passaic County
Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia
M. Valdes, the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Paterson
Police Director Jerry Speziale and Police Chief Troy Oswald, and the Paterson
Police Department Office of Internal Affairs, for their assistance in the
investigation.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Rahul Agarwal, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division.
Defense counsel: John C. Whipple Esq., Morristown
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment