Former California correctional lieutenant Matthew Madsen arrested today for conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate

Former California correctional lieutenant Matthew Madsen was arrested today on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate.

The press release issued this evening from U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California has more details.

U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California press release:

A former California state correctional lieutenant was arrested today on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate.

Matthew L. Madsen, 39, of Greenfield, Calif., made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose this afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint filed Feb. 4, 2026, and unsealed today, 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, Calif.  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.  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.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.

Madsen was released on bond.   He is next scheduled to appear in district court on Feb. 17, 2026, for a status hearing.

A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the count of honest services fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 1349.  Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

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.