New York Army National Guard Soldier Arrested Smuggling Contraband Into Collins Prison

Savian Maxwell, a 30-year-old member of the New York State Army National Guard from Brooklyn, was arrested for attempting to smuggle contraband, including approximately 176 grams of marijuana and four cell phones, into Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County. The arrest was made following an investigation by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s Office of Special Investigations, with assistance from New York State Police, after a K9 detected contraband during a security check. Maxwell faces multiple charges, including promoting prison contraband, bribe receiving, and official misconduct, and was arraigned with bail set at $10,000. The incident comes as National Guard soldiers have been assisting at understaffed state prisons following a recent corrections officer strike. Authorities emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for contraband in state facilities and said the investigation is ongoing.