Sussex County woman charged with taking bribes to smuggle contraband into New York federal prison
OTISVILLE, N.Y. (Orange County) — A Sussex County woman and former federal prison contractor has been charged with accepting bribes in exchange for smuggling drugs and other contraband into a federal correctional institution in Orange County, New York, according to federal prosecutors.
Terri Lynn Outer, 50, of Montague Township, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bribery, providing or possessing contraband in prison, and conspiracy to provide or possess contraband in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced.
According to the complaint, Outer worked as a contract dental assistant at the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville from January 2024 through August 2025.
Federal authorities allege that during that time, Outer solicited and accepted more than $163,000 in payments from inmates’ family members and associates in exchange for smuggling contraband and prohibited items into the prison. Investigators also allege she maintained extensive communications with inmates, former inmates and their associates, including discussions about smuggling a package weighing more than six pounds into the facility.
“As alleged, Terri Lynn Outer accepted bribes from federal inmates, their family members, and their associates in exchange for smuggling contraband, including drugs, into a federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The DOJ refuses to tolerate such corruption in our prisons. It makes our prisons more dangerous and makes rehabilitation more difficult.”
According to prosecutors, prison staff searched a Health Services Department supply room on Aug. 1, 2025, to which Outer had access. During the search, authorities allegedly recovered approximately 3.2 pounds of marijuana and 6.7 pounds of loose-leaf tobacco.
“Outer’s alleged attempt to accept bribes and smuggle contraband jeopardized the safety and security of the institution,” said Ryan T. Geach, special agent in charge of the Northeast Region Office of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. “The DOJ OIG is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to bring to justice any Bureau of Prisons employee or contractor who abuses their authority and attempts to smuggle illegal contraband into federal prisons.”
If convicted, Outer faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison on the bribery charge and up to five years each on the contraband and conspiracy charges. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge.
