TRENTON — Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) today announced that a state grand jury indicted a senior correctional police officer after he allegedly smuggled contraband into Northern State Prison in exchange for payment.

A state grand jury voted to indict New Jersey Department of Corrections Officer Christopher Santana, 33, of Hackensack, New Jersey, on May 26, 2026. As alleged, between approximately May 2024 and June 2025, the defendant accepted monetary bribes from individuals made on behalf of inmates in exchange for Santana bringing contraband to incarcerated individuals at the Newark facility.

“As alleged in this indictment, the defendant betrayed his obligations to keep Northern State Prison secure and to prevent contraband from entering the secure facility,” said Attorney General Davenport. “My office is committed to seeking justice and accountability whenever any member of law enforcement exploits their position to illegally enrich themselves, at the expense of the people and the institutions they were meant to serve.”

“The New Jersey Department of Corrections is committed to safe and secure facility operations and the highest standards of professionalism and accountability,” said DOC Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn. “Employees who allegedly abuse their positions and compromise facility security through contraband smuggling or any other criminal conduct will be investigated by the Special Investigations Division and held accountable.”

As alleged in publicly filed documents in this case:

On the evening of June 10, 2025, when Santana was arriving for work, law enforcement observed a large bulge protruding from the chest area of his clothing. A subsequent search of Santana revealed he had two vacuum-sealed bags containing tobacco and three bottles of an unknown liquid concealed underneath his protective vest as well as near his upper thigh area. Further investigation revealed the defendant had allegedly been receiving illicit compensation from associates of inmates at the prison starting in May 2024.

The indictment charges the defendant with four counts:

1. Conspiracy (2nd degree)

2. Bribery in official and political matters (2nd degree)

3. Acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior (2nd degree)

4. Official misconduct (2nd degree)

Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputy Attorney General Samantha Eaton is prosecuting the case for the OPIA Corruption Bureau.

Defense counsel:

Anthony Pope, Esq., Newark, New Jersey