By: Najla Alexander
NJ AG authorities announced the return of an indictment against a Trenton police officer who allegedly made misleading statements on his job application about who his associates were, divulged privileged law enforcement information, and possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute and possessed and managed the financial proceeds of criminal activity.
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said a state grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against Rudy Lopez, 38, of Hamilton, on charges including tampering with public records and a pattern of official misconduct.
According to officials, Lopez’s brother, Lisandro Rivera, 40, also of Hamilton, was also indicted after allegedly conspiring with his brother to financially facilitate crimes.
The indictment follows an investigation by the Corruption Bureau of the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA), which uncovered how Lopez had been communicating since at least 2021 with a state prison inmate who is a member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (ALKQN) street gang, officials stated.
Officials said it is alleged that on numerous occasions, Lopez and the incarcerated gang member discussed an individual who they believed had cooperated in the inmate’s prosecution.
Lopez and the inmate allegedly conspired to set up an aggravated assault targeting that victim, officials say.
According to the investigation, Lopez endeavored to find the victim’s location and passed what he believed to be the victim’s whereabouts to the imprisoned gang member.
Prosecutors also allege Lopez revealed confidential business of the Trenton Police Department and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office to his co-conspirator.
Authorities say the investigation revealed that Lopez failed to report his conversations with the inmate, failed to report the prisoner’s intent to cause significant bodily injury to the victim, and failed to warn of the credible threat against the victim, in violation of his duties as a police officer.
Officials said, as alleged in documents filed in the case, Lopez had previously made false entries on his application for employment with the Trenton Police Department, knowingly misstating on his application that he was not associating with any individuals, including family members, who are or had been gang members.
He also allegedly omitted information in his responses to other questions regarding incarcerated relatives, according to officials.
Officials say Lopez allegedly made the false statements to defraud the Trenton Police and to conceal his association with a gang member and relation to an incarcerated person.
Lopez is also accused of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute, officials said.
According to officials, he and his brother, Rivera, are further accused of possessing and managing money derived from criminal activity.
“As alleged, this case involves a member of law enforcement who violated his duties and participated in the commission of crimes,” said Attorney General Platkin.
“The allegations in this indictment represent an egregious and shocking betrayal of the badge, and of the citizens, this officer swore an oath to protect.”
“We allege that the fraudulent statements on the defendant’s job application deceived the Trenton Police Department into allowing someone who was unfit to serve as a police officer onto the force,” said Thomas J. Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA.
“And once that individual had gained a position of public trust, he allegedly betrayed that trust by committing crimes and failing to fulfill his duties of upholding and enforcing the law and protecting the community.”
Officials stated that Lopez is facing charges, including Tampering with public records (3rd degree), Official misconduct (2nd degree — three counts), Conspiracy (2nd degree), Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute (3rd degree), Possession of CDS with intention to distribute within 1,000 feet of school property (3rd degree), and Pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree).
Both brothers have been charged with the following crimes, including Conspiracy (2nd degree), Financial facilitation of criminal activity (3rd degree), and Financial facilitation of criminal activity (2nd degree), authorities say.