By Nicolas Fernandes
nj.com
NEWARK, N.J. — A former corrections officer has admitted in a guilty plea that he sold smuggled contraband, including deli meat and jewelry, to an inmate at a state prison.
Werner Gramajo, 48, of Newark, has pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit official misconduct, the state Attorney General’s Office said in a statement.
Gramajo was a senior corrections officer stationed at Northern State Prison in Newark when he was charged in 2022. At the time, he had been a state employee since 2013 and was receiving a salary of $79,660, according to public pension records. Following the charges, he was suspended from the job without pay.
As part of his plea deal with the state, he must forfeit his position and the $6,000 in proceeds he made from the scheme and will also be subject to permanent ban on public office and employment in New Jersey.
Investigators alleged that Gramajo smuggled various items into the prison for Thomas De Vingo, who had been serving time for a robbery conviction. Investigators said that Gramajo was receiving as much as $500 a month in bribes from the inmate to smuggle in items such as deli meat, jewelry, cologne and espresso.
The arrangement began in early 2020 after De Vingo learned Gramajo had financial problems, authorities said. The Department of Corrections learned of the scheme after a note was found in a high-security area off limits to inmates requesting that food be brought to “Tommy Two Times.” It contained $40 in cash, officials said.
Gramajo later told investigators that he only brought the inmate food on one occasion and did not accept any cash, the Attorney General’s Office said.
“The defendant misused his position of trust, authority, and access to this facility in order to unlawfully enrich himself,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. “Corruption within correctional institutions cannot be tolerated. It compromises facilities’ security and puts inmates and the vast majority of law-abiding officers working there at heightened risk.”
He was initially charged with official misconduct, bribery, conspiracy and tampering with public records.
As part of his plea deal, the state will recommend a sentence of 364 days in county jail and a probation period that will be determined by the court.
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