TRENTON, N.J. — Two current or former federal correctional officers and three others have been charged in an alleged bribery scheme to smuggle knives, drugs, cellphones and other contraband into the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
The defendants are Cameron Paige, 43, a Fort Dix correctional officer; Ian Dennis, 32, a former correctional officer at the prison; Eden Germain, 27; and federal inmates Joe Lee McQuay, 48, and Keith Navarro Palmer, 41.
All five are charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to provide contraband in prison. Paige and Dennis also face bribery charges for allegedly accepting payments to help the conspirators evade employee screening procedures.
From May 2025 through May 2026, the defendants allegedly conspired to smuggle knives, marijuana, tobacco, cellphones, vaping devices, cellphone chargers, tool kits and a tattoo kit into the prison for sale to inmates, according to court documents.
One of the smuggled knives was later used by McQuay to stab another inmate during a dispute over money, prosecutors alleged.
In August 2025, members of the conspiracy allegedly discussed smuggling 20 cellphones, eight cellphone charging blocks, 8 ounces of THC wax and 10 vaping devices into the prison.
Prosecutors said the operation relied heavily on Dennis, who at times was assigned to search employees reporting for work and send their belongings through a metal detector.
Inmates and their associates allegedly paid Dennis and Paige bribes and kickbacks to help them bypass the prison’s security screening procedures.
More than $100,000 was transferred among the alleged conspirators through Zelle, Apple Pay, Cash App and Venmo, according to prosecutors.
Dennis, of Philadelphia; Paige, of Cinnaminson, New Jersey; and Germain, of Delran, New Jersey, made their initial court appearances Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni. All three were released on bond.
McQuay and Navarro Palmer are serving federal prison sentences. Their initial appearances will be scheduled later.
The bribery charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The contraband conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years.
The charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
🔴 Quick Fact Checklist
🔴 Defendants: Cameron Paige, Ian Dennis, Eden Germain, Joe Lee McQuay and Keith Navarro Palmer
🔴 Facility: Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey
🔴 Alleged conspiracy period: May 2025 through May 2026
🔴 Alleged contraband: Knives, marijuana, tobacco, cellphones, vapes, chargers, tools and a tattoo kit
🔴 Money transferred: More than $100,000
🔴 Payment services: Zelle, Apple Pay, Cash App and Venmo
🔴 Key allegation: Correctional officers accepted bribes to bypass employee screening
🔴 Violent incident: Prosecutors allege a smuggled knife was used to stab an inmate
🔴 Maximum bribery penalty: 10 years in federal prison
🔴 Maximum conspiracy penalty: Five years in federal prison
🔴 Case status: Criminal complaint; no defendant has been convicted in this case