SAN JOSE, California — A former California state correctional lieutenant has been arrested on charges of conspiring to smuggle contraband into a state prison in exchange for approximately $100,000 in payments from an inmate.
Matthew L. Madsen, a 39-year-old from Greenfield, California, made his initial appearance in federal district court in San Jose, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office. The criminal complaint, filed on February 4, 2026, and unsealed today, alleges that Madsen violated his duties while employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from 2017 to 2025. During his tenure, he primarily worked at Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, California.
The complaint accuses Madsen of smuggling items, including cellular devices and tobacco, into the prison at the request of an inmate. Cellular devices are prohibited in California state prisons as they can be used to bypass mandatory communication screenings and facilitate illegal activities, including violent attacks and contraband trafficking, stated the press release.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani announced the charges. Madsen was released on bond and is scheduled to appear in district court on February 17, 2026, for a status hearing.
The complaint is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Madsen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for honest services fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 1349. Sentencing would be determined by the court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and federal statutes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael G. Pitman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.