Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — A corrections officer in northern New Jersey has pleaded guilty to accepting a $1,000 bribe in exchange for smuggling contraband.
John Grosso, of Belleville, pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of extortion under color of official right. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 19.
The U.S. attorney’s says Grosso took about $1,000 to smuggle cellphones and cigarettes to an inmate at the Essex County Jail in 2013.
Grosso allegedly met with an associate of the inmate at the parking lot of a Best Buy store in Secaucus. Both the inmate and the associate provided information to authorities that led to the charge against Grosso.
Another former corrections officer, Stephen Solomon, was sentenced to 18 months in prison in March for taking $4,000 in bribes to smuggle contraband into the jail.