By: Richard L. Smith
A Passaic County man has pleaded guilty to using an explosive device to damage a Chase Bank ATM in Prospect Park, New Jersey, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Nicolas Torres, 42, of Passaic, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Julien X. Neals in Newark federal court.
He admitted to one count of using an explosive to damage property involved in interstate commerce.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the incident occurred during the early morning hours of July 5, 2022.
Surveillance footage captured Torres approaching the Chase Bank ATM, where he ignited an object in front of the machine.
Moments later, the ATM exploded, and Torres was seen fleeing the scene with two other individuals.
Investigators tied Torres to the crime using both the surveillance footage and cell phone location data, which placed him at the scene of the explosion.
The investigation also revealed that Torres had traveled to Pennsylvania the day before the blast and spent roughly $1,000 on fireworks, which were believed to have been used in the incident.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a potential fine of up to $250,000.
Torres is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9, 2025.