GREENFIELD — A former California state correctional lieutenant has been arrested on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate.
Matthew Madsen, 39, of Greenfield, made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose on Feb. 9.
According to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 4, Madsen was employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2017 to 2025, during which time he primarily worked at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad.
“Cellular devices are not permitted in California state prisons because they can be used to circumvent the mandatory screening of communications into and out of institutions, and have been used by inmates to plan violent attacks and the smuggling and trafficking of contraband, including narcotics,” stated a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California. “Accordingly, like all state correctional employees, Madsen was obligated to prevent the introduction of contraband into the prison, confiscate any contraband located in the prison, and report its presence.”
The complaint alleges that Madsen violated these obligations and smuggled items, including cellular devices and tobacco, into Salinas Valley State Prison at the request of an inmate and in exchange for payments totaling approximately $100,000.
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
Madsen has been released on bond, and was next scheduled to appear in district court on Feb. 17 for a status hearing. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the count of honest services fraud.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
