KEARNY–
A former corrections officer at the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center satellite unit in Kearny was sentenced to state prison Friday for smuggling heroin and marijuana into the facility, which houses sex offenders.
Acting N.J. Attorney General John J. Hoffman reported that Bobby Singletary, 55, of Paterson, was sentenced to seven years in state prison, including five years of parole ineligibility, by Superior Court Judge Mitzy Galis-Menendez in Hudson County.
Singletary was also ordered to forfeit his entire pension and is permanently barred from public employment in New Jersey.
In September, he had been found guilty at trial of conspiracy, official misconduct and bribery. Five other defendants pleaded guilty previously and testified against him.
Between August 2007 and October 2010, Singletary conspired with the other defendants to acquire heroin and high-grade marijuana that he smuggled to inmates at the Kearny facility. The customers paid for the drugs by wiring money to co-conspirators outside the prison.
“By smuggling drugs to inmates, Singletary betrayed his oath and compromised the safety of his fellow correction officers,” Hoffman said. “He demonstrated that he belongs on the other side of the prison bars.”
Hoffman noted that the Division of Criminal Justice has established a toll-free tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to confidentially report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities. The public also can confidentially report suspected wrongdoing via the website http://www.njdcj.org.
–Karen Zautyk
