Fifty-seven-year-old Mark Leonardis, of Weehawken, and his employee, 66-year-old Mario Lora, of Passaic, are now charged in connection with the fire, which destroyed two buildings and injured two firefighters as flames consumed the block-long structure on George Street in February.
The fire burned for five days.
Investigators determined the building's sprinkler system valve chain was cut.
The two men now face up to 10 years in prison.
