NEWARK, New Jersey — A state corrections officer has been indicted for allegedly accepting bribes to smuggle tobacco and other contraband into Northern State Prison in Newark, authorities announced.
Christopher Santana, a 33-year-old prison guard from Hackensack, New Jersey, allegedly operated the smuggling scheme between May 2024 and June 2025, according to a May 26 statement issued by New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport.
Law enforcement officials intercepted Santana on June 10, when officers observed an unusual bulge beneath his clothing as he arrived at the correctional facility, which was formerly known as Rahway State Prison.
A subsequent search of Santana revealed two vacuum-sealed bags containing tobacco and three bottles filled with an unidentified liquid hidden beneath his protective vest and pants, Davenport stated.
Investigators believe that friends and associates of inmates incarcerated at Northern State Prison had been paying Santana to smuggle contraband into the facility for more than a year.
Davenport stated that Santana betrayed his professional obligations to maintain security at Northern State Prison and to prevent the introduction of contraband into the secure facility. She added that her office remains committed to pursuing justice and accountability whenever a member of law enforcement exploits their official position for illegal financial gain at the expense of the public and the institutions they are sworn to serve.
A grand jury indicted Santana on second-degree charges of conspiracy, bribery, acceptance of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, and official misconduct.
If convicted of the alleged offenses, Santana faces a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison alongside substantial financial penalties, Davenport noted.
Anthony Pope, a Newark-based attorney representing Santana, did not respond to a request for comment regarding the indictment.
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