JERSEY CITY, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- An inmate at a New Jersey prison was convicted Tuesday for smuggling drugs while also serving a sentence in Cumberland County, authorities said.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig, reputed gang leader, 41-year-old Noel Salgado, aka "Kuko," was convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin and fentanyl, resulting in serious bodily injury.
Salgado was convicted after a four-day jury trial in U.S. District Court in Newark, Honig said in a statement.
Rodgerick Garrett, 40, had been indicted on charges of conspiracy, distribution, and possession with intent to distribute but the jury was unable to reach a decision for his role as a co-conspirator, officials added.
"While incarcerated at Bayside State Prison, Salgado directed associates to provide narcotics proceeds to him and his associates and to smuggle narcotics into prison to distribute to other inmates," Honig said.
Salgado arranged on Oct. 17, 2015, for drugs to be smuggled into the in Leesburg prison where he distributed some of the narcotics to another inmate who was "found unresponsive in his cell suffering from a drug overdose" the following day, Honig said.
The inmate was hospitalized for two days after he stopped breathing and had become unconscious for about 20 minutes before medical workers revived him with Narcan, Honig said.
When sentenced, Salgado faces 20 years to life in prison and a $1 million fine.
