Former Northern State Prison Officer Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Contraband for Cash

Werner Gramajo admits providing an inmate with jewelry, food and other items in exchange for $6,000, and faces jail time, forfeiture and a permanent ban from public office.

Newark, N.J., August 6, 2025 — A former senior corrections officer at Northern State Prison has pleaded guilty to a second-degree conspiracy charge after admitting he smuggled contraband to an inmate in exchange for cash, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced today.

Werner Gramajo, 48, of Newark—formerly a senior corrections officer at Northern State Prison—entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit official misconduct in Essex County Superior Court before Judge Carolyn E. Wright. Gramajo admitted that, over several months, he provided an incarcerated individual with cash, jewelry, eyeglasses, cold cuts, clothing, cologne and postage stamps in return for $500 per month, totaling approximately $6,000.

The plea was entered on August 6, 2025, during a hearing in the Essex County courthouse. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025.

“The defendant misused his position of trust, authority, and access to this facility in order to unlawfully enrich himself,” said Attorney General Platkin. “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.”

The investigation began when the New Jersey Department of Corrections’ Special Investigations Division uncovered evidence of contraband smuggling in a secure housing wing at Northern State Prison. OPIA’s Corruption Bureau then traced the scheme to Gramajo, revealing that he used his position to facilitate the flow of prohibited goods into the facility. During his plea allocution, Gramajo confirmed the monthly payments and the nature of the items he smuggled.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend that Gramajo serve 364 days in the Essex County Jail, followed by a period of probation. He is also required to forfeit the $6,000 in proceeds, relinquish his position as a corrections officer, and be permanently barred from holding any public office or employment within New Jersey.

“Any law enforcement officer who betrays their oath and duties in exchange for illicit payments betrays all law enforcement and the public and will be prosecuted. The defendant will rightly no longer be in public service or in public safety in this State,” said OPIA Executive Director Drew Skinner.

Contraband smuggling has long posed challenges to New Jersey’s correctional facilities, undermining safety and security. In recent years, the Department of Corrections has intensified investigative efforts, deploying its Special Investigations Division and partnering with OPIA to pursue officers who abuse their authority.

Gramajo’s guilty plea underscores ongoing efforts by New Jersey officials to root out corruption within the prison system and uphold institutional integrity, sending a clear message that public servants who betray their duties will face criminal prosecution and lasting professional consequences.