Third N.J. prison guard sentenced in smuggling case

A New Jersey Department of Corrections prison guard was sentenced to 30 months behind bars Thursday for accepting $12,000 in cash to smuggle in two cell phones and two CD players to a prisoner, the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey said.

Jermel Brown, 35, of Camden, accepted three cash payments between July 2010 and July 2011, each of more than $3,500. Brown previously pleaded guilty.

The prisoner at Yardville Prison in Mercer County where Brown worked as a senior corrections officer cooperated with federal investigators in the case, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said. Two other guards at the prison have already been sentenced for taking part in the smuggling in of the four electronic devices.

Guards Kenneth Richards and Maurice Brown-Harden were sentenced last year to 18 months in prison. Authorities said that along with the prisoner at Yardville, a person who provided the contraband on the outside also cooperated with authorities.