Kingston, NY—On March 10, 2025, Tantaniea Ferguson, age 33, of New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Ulster County Court on March 10, 2025 before the Honorable Bryan E. Rounds to the charge of Promoting Prison Contraband in the First Degree.  Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2025.

On May 6, 2023, defendant was visiting an incarcerated individual at Shawangunk Correctional, a New York State prison.  A K9 unit with the Office of Special Investigations, which serves as the investigatory body within the prison, alerted to contraband on the defendant.  Defendant was subsequently searched and found to be in possession of 55 pills of methamphetamine within her body cavity, in addition to a ceramic razor blade; such items are dangerous contrabands under New York laws.

District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said, “This is another example of the many ways the health and safety of our Corrections Officers and staff, as well as inmates, are endangered by the actions of visitors. Concealment of dangerous contraband in a visitor’s body cavity indicates that it’s not an accident and that nothing good was intended in smuggling such items into the facility. The vigilance of the K9 unit and investigators here helped maintain the safety of corrections employees and inmates who are the putative targets of such contrabands.”

Deputy Chief ADA Paul Derohannesian is prosecuting the case. Defendant is represented by Damien Brown of New York City.