Corrections officer indicted for smuggling drugs into South Woods

A South Woods State Prison senior corrections officer is accused of taking money to smuggle drugs to an inmate. David Cade, 53, was indicted Wednesday on charges of official misconduct, bribery and acceptance of receipt of unlawful benefit by a public servant for official behavior, Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said. Cade is accused of conspiring with the unnamed inmate and a woman outside the Bridgeton prison. He was allegedly met the woman April 18, where she paid him $1,000 and gave him 50 oxycodone pills for him to smuggle into the prison. Cade also supplied the woman with 21 Suboxone strips — film containing the narcotic Suboxone that dissolves in the mouth, according to the charges. He has been suspended since his arrest immediately after that transaction. Cade's service firearm was also seized. “This defendant took an oath to uphold our laws and maintain security in South Woods State Prison,” Grewal said. “By allegedly conspiring to smuggle highly addictive opioid painkillers into the prison, he betrayed his oath and threatened the safety of correction officers as well as inmates.” Division of Criminal Justice Director Veronica Allende commended the Department of Corrections for "their vigilance in uncovering Cade’s alleged smuggling activities, and the New Jersey State Police for their skillful investigation, which enabled our attorneys to secure this indictment.” “Rooting out corrupt conduct is one of our top priorities in the Division of Criminal Justice, and it is especially critical when the alleged conduct undermines safety and security in a state prison,” she said. “Correctional police officers put their lives on the line daily, relying on each other to ensure the safety of both fellow officers and inmates,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police.  “Cade’s alleged conduct not only jeopardized lives, it betrayed New Jersey’s law enforcement community and citizens alike, who rightfully demand that those entrusted to uphold the law are held to a higher standard.” “The New Jersey Department of Corrections has a zero-tolerance policy for those who use their positions of authority to engage in corrupt, illegal activity,” said New Jersey Department of Corrections Acting Commissioner Marcus O. Hicks, Esq. “Cade’s alleged misconduct severely jeopardizes the safety and security of both our inmate population and officers, and he will face serious consequences for those actions.” Cade could face five to 10 years in state prison on most of the charges, and a fine of as much as $150,000. The Division of Criminal Justice has a toll-free Corruption Tipline 1-866-TIPS-4CJ for the public to report corruption, financial crime and other illegal activities confidentially. The public can also log on to the Division webpage to report suspected wrongdoing confidentially.