Corrections Officer Jaquae Hollingshead at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility Indicted for Allegedly Smuggling Marijuana to Inmates
Jaquae Hollingshead, a 24 year old male from Southampton, N.J., was indicted on the following charges:
♣ conspiracy, (2nd degree)
♣ official misconduct (2nd degree)
♣ Bribery in official matters (2nd degree)
♣ distribution of marijuana (3rd degree)
♣ Money laundering (3rd degree)
Hollingshead has been suspended from his position as a senior correction officer as a result of the allegations.
It is alleged that, on multiple occasions, Hollingshead smuggled marijuana and tobacco to inmates in the correctional facility. In return, he supposedly received bribes from friends or relatives of the inmates. Inmates communicated with Hollingshead using a phone to plan for the illegal goods to be smuggled.
“By smuggling contraband to inmates, corrupt correction officers compound the challenges faced by their fellow officers in maintaining security in our state correctional facilities,” said Attorney General Porrino. “We allege that Hollingshead betrayed his badge and compromised safety by smuggling contraband, including drugs, into a youth correctional facility.”
“I commend the investigators in the Department of Corrections who uncovered this alleged smuggling scheme,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “We intend to aggressively prosecute this defendant to send a clear message that we won’t stand for crooked correction officers who undermine security in our prisons.”
“Thanks to everyone who collaborated on this investigation,” said New Jersey Department of Corrections Commissioner Gary M. Lanigan. “The overwhelming majority of New Jersey Department of Corrections staff is hard-working and honest. However, a corrupt employee can undermine the integrity of the entire criminal justice system. Every member of our staff knows that if he or she acts in an unlawful manner, then he or she should not be working for the NJDOC and is subject to the legal ramifications of that behavior.”
Second-degree charges carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000, while third-degree charges carry a sentence of three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. The second-degree charges carry a mandatory minimum period of parole ineligibility of five years. The third-degree money laundering charge carries an enhanced fine of up to $25,000.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The indictment was handed up to Superior Court Judge Mary C. Jacobson in Mercer County, who assigned the case to Burlington County, where Hollingshead will be ordered to appear in court at a later date for arraignment on the charges.
All persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of law.
