By: Richard L. Smith
A man serving a federal sentence at a Burlington County correctional facility was found unresponsive early Wednesday morning, marking the second inmate death at the institution in under a month, according to information released by prison officials.
Authorities confirmed that 34-year-old Macos Sanchez-Santana was discovered around 3:15 a.m. by staff at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Fort Dix.
Emergency life-saving measures were initiated immediately, and emergency medical services were called to the scene.
Despite their efforts, Sanchez-Santana was pronounced dead shortly afterward by EMS personnel.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons stated that Sanchez-Santana had been incarcerated at Fort Dix since August 27, 2024, following his conviction in the District of Puerto Rico for conspiracy to import cocaine.
His death has been reported to the FBI, as is standard protocol in such cases. Officials did not specify the location within the facility where he was found.
Sanchez-Santana's death closely follows a similar incident at the same facility involving another inmate, 34-year-old Javier Francisco Villalba-Reyes, who died in March.
Like Sanchez-Santana, Villalba-Reyes was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene after resuscitation attempts.
He had been serving a four-year sentence for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and had only been in custody for a little over a month.
FCI Fort Dix is a low-security federal prison situated within the grounds of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The recent deaths have raised concerns about conditions and oversight within the facility. Both incidents remain under investigation.