A senior corrections officer at Northern State Prison, Werner Gramajo, a 46-year-old resident of Newark, New Jersey, is facing criminal charges stemming from allegations of a contraband smuggling scheme with an inmate.
It has been announced by the NJ Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin that a state grand jury has voted to file criminal charges against Gramajo, with all five counts in the indictment being approved after deliberations.
According to the OPIA’s Corruption Bureau investigation, Gramajo was found to have orchestrated a pattern of contraband smuggling. He allegedly gave the inmate a variety of illicit items, including cash, personal effects, stamps, and other food items. Gramajo received monthly cash payments as compensation for supplying the contraband.
The seriousness of the allegations was emphasized by Attorney General Platkin, who stated that corrections officers are public servants and that most of them honor their oaths and serve as examples to their community and those under their care. However, any correctional officer who conspires with a prisoner to commit crimes will be caught and penalized.”
According to Thomas Eicher, the Executive Director of OPIA, bringing contraband into a correctional institution undermines the institution’s security. It poses a threat to both the corrections officers and the inmates. The result of the deliberations determined that Gramajo violated his duties for money.
The investigation was initiated after evidence of contraband smuggling was uncovered within an officer-controlled area of a housing wing at Northern State Prison in 2021. Gramajo allegedly authored a false report to deceive the New Jersey Department of Corrections (NJDOC) about his involvement with the prisoner. However, an extensive OPIA investigation revealed a long-running arrangement between Gramajo and the inmate, which lasted from December 2019 until January 2021.
As a result of the investigation, Gramajo has been indicted on charges including conspiracy, official misconduct, bribery, acceptance of unlawful benefits, and tampering with public records.
The indictment is seen as a significant step in addressing the alleged misconduct of a corrections officer and highlights New Jersey’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the corrections system.
Source: https://www.rlsmedia.com/article/senior-correctional-officer-northern-state-prison-indicted-multiple-charges