Francis Styles, Official Record Tampering, New Jersey 2024

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bayonne police officer is facing the music after being indicted today for a brazen attempt to cover up a brutal assault during an arrest. Francis Styles, 36, of Bayonne, stands accused of deliberately falsifying official records to shield a fellow officer’s excessive use of force, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced.

The indictment alleges that on December 27, 2013, Styles, along with former Bayonne officer Domenico Lillo and another unnamed officer, were executing a warrant in Bayonne. Once the suspect was cuffed and no longer resisting, Lillo allegedly struck him in the face with a flashlight, causing injuries severe enough to require hospitalization. But Styles didn’t report that. Instead, he allegedly crafted a narrative painting the suspect as a continuing threat, claiming he violently struggled even *after* being restrained.

The indictment details how Styles’ official report omitted the flashlight strike entirely, falsely asserting the suspect’s injuries resulted from hitting a wall and the ground. This wasn’t a simple oversight; prosecutors say it was a calculated effort to obstruct justice and protect Lillo. Styles is now charged with one count of falsifying records in a federal investigation and one count of misprision of a felony – essentially, knowing about a crime and failing to report it.

If convicted, Styles could face a hefty prison sentence. The charge of falsifying records carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years behind bars. The misprision of felony charge adds another three years. Of course, these are just accusations at this stage, and Styles is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is a stark reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law aren’t above it.

This isn’t a standalone incident. Domenico Lillo, the officer allegedly wielding the flashlight, previously pleaded guilty to federal charges including deprivation of civil rights, falsifying records, and filing a false report with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He’s currently awaiting sentencing. The feds are clearly sending a message: cover-ups will be prosecuted.

The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI, led by Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of the Inspector General, under Special Agent in Charge Christina Scaringi. Acting U.S. Attorney Fitzpatrick also extended thanks to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the Bayonne Police Department for their cooperation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacques S. Pierre and Bruce P. Keller are handling the prosecution. Styles is represented by John D. Arseneault Esq. of Chatham, New Jersey. Expect a fight.