Newark C.O. Allegedly Smuggled Drugs Into Northern State Prison

NEWARK, NJ — A senior correction officer at Northern State Prison in Newark was indicted Thursday on charges that he smuggled fentanyl and marijuana to an inmate in the prison in exchange for money, prosecutors say.

Roberto Reyes-Jackson, 28, of Irvington, was indicted Thursday by a state grand jury on charges of conspiracy, official misconduct, and bribery in official matters, all second-degree counts, as well as third-degree distribution of fentanyl and fourth-degree distribution of marijuana, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General.

Reyes-Jackson has been suspended from his position as a senior correction officer as a result of the allegations, prosecutors said.

According to prosecutors:

“On one or more occasions between September and December 2016, Reyes-Jackson allegedly smuggled multiple doses of a powder compound laced with the super-potent synthetic opioid fentanyl to an inmate in the prison. The fentanyl was packaged like heroin in single-dose glassine folds or “bags” bearing a “panda face” logo on them. Reyes-Jackson also allegedly smuggled a small quantity of marijuana to the inmate. The alleged smuggling came to light after prison staff discovered a bag containing marijuana and two small bags containing fentanyl – which was initially suspected to be heroin – in the inmate’s cell in December 2016. A subsequent search of the cell revealed additional marijuana and suspected heroin, which lab testing later revealed to be fentanyl.”

Prosecutors continued:

“Further investigation by the Department of Corrections Special Investigations Division and the Division of Criminal Justice Corruption Bureau revealed that Reyes-Jackson allegedly accepted bribes in excess of $200 from the inmate’s girlfriend in return for smuggling the drugs into prison. The inmate, in turn, allegedly distributed the drugs to other inmates, who paid him by having friends or relatives outside the prison wire money to his girlfriend. The inmate and his girlfriend are not identified in the indictment.”

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. The charges of official misconduct and bribery carry a mandatory minimum term of five years of parole ineligibility. Third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000, while fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine, prosecutors said.

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