A corrupt correctional officer has admitted to accepting a bribe in exchange for smuggling a phone into a New Jersey jail.
According to court documents, Marcus Kidd, 36, of Elmer, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted extortion under color of official right in Camden federal court. Kidd agreed to receive a $5,000 bribe to smuggle a phone into the Salem County Correctional Facility for a federal pretrial detainee.
In May 2022, Kidd met with an associate of the detainee at a parking lot in Elmer, New Jersey, and accepted $5,000 in cash and a cell phone. Kidd, a correctional officer at the Salem County Correctional Facility, is facing a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for his crime.
The investigation into Kidd’s corruption was led by the FBI, with special agents from the Philadelphia and Newark Field Offices credited with the work. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden is representing the government in the case.
Kidd is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2022. His guilty plea marks a serious blow to public trust in the New Jersey correctional system.
The Salem County Correctional Facility is a medium-security prison located in Salem, New Jersey. Kidd’s corruption scheme highlights the ongoing threats to public safety and accountability in the state’s correctional system.
The case against Kidd is a stark reminder of the dangers of corruption within the corrections system. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who seek to exploit their positions for personal gain.
Related Federal Cases
- Thomas A. DeLeo, Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, Jersey City NJ, 2023 · Alabama
- Arnaldo Echevarria, Corruption and Bribery Scheme, New Jersey 2024 · Kansas
- Matthew Calicchio, Voter Bribery Scheme, New Jersey 2013 · Arkansas
- Curtis Whiteford, Bribery Conspiracy, New Jersey 2007 · Washington
- Bernard Greenspan, Bribery, New Jersey 2023 · New Jersey
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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