Criminal charges have been filed against two New Jersey State Troopers who escorted luxury sports cars on a high-speed caravan down the Garden State Parkway.

New Jersey Attorney General Jeff Chiesa says Sgt. Nadir Nassry and Trooper Joseph Ventrella never got permission for the escort and used black electrical tape to change the numbers on their state police license plates. He says Nassry instructed other drivers in the caravan to conceal their plates as well.
 

“What they did was absolutely wrong. To make matters worse they knew it was wrong and attempted to cover up their involvement in this egregious conduct.”

 Chiesa says the unauthorized escort turned the highway into a virtual speedway placing countess motorists at risk.

“We will not tolerate officers who endanger the public they are sworn to protect. Police escorts are designed to keep the public safe, but the actions of these two troopers in conducting the high speed caravan did the opposite.”

Both troopers are charged with tampering with public records and have been suspended without pay.

State Police Superintendent Rick Fuentes says Nassry¹s request to keep his pension won¹t be considered until the criminal charges are resolved.
 

Chiesa does not anticipate charging the drivers of the sports cars in the caravan.
 

“There¹s a time within which to issue a speeding ticket and that time has passed. I believe that¹s 30 days, and at this point I don¹t have any evidence in front of me that suggests any other charges are warranted for the drivers.”
 

New guidelines for state police escorts include instructions to obey the speed limit and avoid the use of passing lanes.