|
TRENTON
-- Attorney General Peter C. Harvey announced that the Division of
Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions Bureau has charged two Burlington
County corrections officers with bribery, official misconduct and
theft for smuggling contraband to prisoners in the Burlington County
Jail in exchange for cash payments.
According
to Vaughn L. McKoy, Director, Division of Criminal Justice, Vincenzo
A. Perricone, 25, West Broad Street, Burlington, and James H. Dowd,
27, Safron Drive, Lumberton, were charged via a State Grand Jury indictment
returned on Jan 23. Dowd was charged with bribery in official and
political matters (2nd degree), official misconduct (2nd degree) and
engaging in a pattern of official misconduct (2nd degree). Perricone
was charged with bribery in official and political matters (3rd degree),
official misconduct (3rd degree) and theft by unlawful taking (4th
degree). If convicted on all charges, Dowd faces up to 30 years in
state prison and a fine of up to $450,000, while Perricone faces up
to 11 1/2 years in State prison and a fine of up to $40,000.
The
State Grand Jury indictment alleges that both Dowd and Perricone,
employed as corrections officers at the Burlington County Jail located
in Mt. Holly, smuggled contraband to prisoners being held in the county
jail in exchange for at least $200 in cash payments. Dowd allegedly
smuggled cigars, marijuana, alcohol, clothing, pre-paid cellular telephones
and personal items in exchange for cash payments, while Perricone
allegedly smuggled cigarettes in exchange for money. Both Dowd and
Perricone were arrested without incident by State Police detectives
assigned to the Division of Criminal Justice - Special Prosecutions
Bureau on Oct. 31, 2003. Both have been suspended from their positions
as corrections officers.
The
indictment was handed up to Mercer County Superior Court Judge Linda
Feinberg on Jan. 23. The case has been assigned to the Burlington
County Superior Court for trial. The defendants remain free on ROR
bail pending arraignment in the Burlington County Superior Court.
The
investigation was coordinated by State Police Detectives Gerald Nachurski
and Joseph Campbell assigned to the Special Prosecutions Bureau. Deputy
Attorney General Anthony Picione presented the case to the State Grand
Jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in
a court of law.
# # #
Read
Related Relese--Perricone>>
Read
Related Relese--Dowd>>
|
