New Jersey Jail Guard Charged With Taking Bribes

A corrections officer in North Jersey was charged with accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling contraband.

Federal authorities arrested John Grosso on Thursday and charged the 41-year-old Belleville resident with one count of extortion conspiracy.

The U.S. attorney's office contends Grosso took about $1,000 to smuggle cellphones and cigarettes to an inmate at the Essex County Jail last November and December.

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.

Extortion conspiracy carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence upon conviction.

Grosso's attorney didn't return a message seeking comment Thursday.