Sergeant Lied About Seized Contraband In Atlantic Co. Jail: Prosecutor

MAYS LANDING, NJ — An Atlantic County Justice Facility sergeant has been charged with official misconduct after seizing contraband from an inmate and then claiming that it was not recovered, authorities said.

Fred Gilbert, 37, of Egg Harbor City, "concealed or destroyed" contraband on June 12, 2023, that was taken from an inmate in the jail who was being held on unrelated charges, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.

According to New Jersey 101.5, narcotics were found during a strip search of the inmate. Gilbert took the narcotics and they have not been found, the outlet reported.

Gilbert also had a junior officer make a false document that said the contraband was not recovered, and authored his own report saying the say, authorities said.

He is charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree witness tampering, fourth-degree obstruction, two counts of fourth-degree false reporting to law enforcement authorities, and fourth-degree tampering with physical evidence.

Gilbert, whose salary was $106,365 as of last year per state records, is now suspended without pay, according to New Jersey 101.5.