Corrections Officer And Inmate Dealt Drugs At Hudson County Jail: Prosecutor

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A Hudson County correctional officer and two inmates were arrested Tuesday in connection with drug distribution in the county jail, prosecutors said.

Marquis Santiago, 33, a correctional police officer, and inmate Francisco Salcedo, 44, of Jersey City were charged with three counts of distributing K2 and conspiracy to distribute K2, said the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office on Friday.

K2, also known as "spice," is a form of synthetic marijuana, according to the DEA.

A second inmate, Israel Rosado, 38, of Newark, was charged with a count of K2 possession, prosecutors said.

Another man, Alvin DeLeon, 31, of Bayonne, was arrested separately and charged with conspiracy to distribute K2 in connection with the operation.

Prosecutors said that between Jan. 8 and this past April 7, Officer Santiago gave Salcedo K2 inside the Hudson County Correctional Facility. Salcedo then distributed it throughout the facility, including to Rosado. DeLeon assisted in the distribution process, prosecutors said.

Santiago, the corrections officer, was arrested at the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City and released to await his first court appearance, prosecutors said.

Salcedo and Rosado were processed on summonses at the Hudson County Correctional jail on Tuesday, prosecutors said.

DeLeon was arrested at the County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City on Thursday and released to await a court appearance.

“The Hudson County Department of Corrections is committed to the core values of safety and rehabilitation,” said Hudson County Department of Corrections Director Becky Scott. “Our employees are held to a high standard in order to protect the integrity of this facility.”

Acting Prosecutor Wayne Mello credited the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Internal Affairs Unitand the Hudson County Department of Corrections Internal Affairs Unit and Intelligence Bureau with the investigation and arrests.