BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A former federal correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC-Brooklyn) pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle contraband into the facility, federal officials announced Tuesday.
Najee Jackson admitted in court to concealing vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana and cigarettes inside his Bureau of Prisons-issued protective vest in January 2025, while on duty at the Brooklyn facility. The plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Orelia E. Merchant.
Jackson now faces up to five years in federal prison for attempted provision of contraband in prison.
According to prosecutors, Jackson was caught attempting to bring the contraband into MDC-Brooklyn, violating federal law and institutional regulations.
“The defendant admitted to bringing contraband into the very jail he was charged with protecting,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “His actions undermined the safety and security of his fellow correctional officers and the inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.”
The investigation was led by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG).
“Those who betray the trust and jeopardize the safety of their fellow correctional officers and citizens will face consequences for doing so,” said DOJ-OIG Special Agent in Charge Ryan T. Geach.