A state grand jury indicted Christopher Santana, 33, of Hackensack, on four second-degree charges tied to smuggling contraband into Northern State Prison in Newark. The indictment came down on May 26.
Santana held a position as a senior correctional police officer with the state Department of Corrections. Each count carries a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison. Fines could reach $150,000 per count.
The charges cover conspiracy, bribery in official and political matters, acceptance or receipt of an unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, and official misconduct. Prosecutors say Santana accepted around $2,000 in bribes spanning May 2024 through June 2025…