NYS PRISON GUARD ADMITS SMUGGLING DRUGS TO INMATES
GREGORY GORMAN SHOWED UP FOR WORK WITH HALF-OUNCE OF COKE, HEROIN; PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO FELONIES AND A MISDEMEANOR
MALONE, NEW YORK Sept. 9, 2026
A New York State correction officer has pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs to inmates.
Gregory Gorman, 30, of Moravia, a Buffalo suburb, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, promoting prison contraband in the first degree and official misconduct, Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Antonacci said in a news release on Wednesday.
The top charge the corrupt cop faced, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, is a class B felony with a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. It requires "intent to distribute." Gorman will get 3 years, running concurrent with the shorter sentences he received for the two lesser charges.
Gorman worked at the medium-security Cayuga Correctional Facility in central New York. He was busted Mar. 27 based on a lead developed by the state prison system's internal affairs unit, called the Office of Special Investigation by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
When Gorman reported for work that morning, OSI investigators and State Troopers were waiting for him.
As part of the investigation, OSI conducted a staff screening when Gorman reported for duty at approximately 6:54 a.m," the State Police said in a news release after the bust. "A trained narcotics detection canine alerted to the presence of drugs on Gorman’s person."
A search of Gorman's person revealed 28.2 grams of cocaine—more than half an ounce—and 10.3 grams of heroin in "50 paper sleeves," the news release revealed. A search of his vehicle uncovered an additional .4 grams of cocaine—apparently for Gorman's personal use.
"As alleged in the indictment, Gorman admitted that in March 2026, he possessed more than one half ounce of cocaine," the Cayuga County District Attorney's news release said. "He further admitted that, while employed as a correctional officer, he knowingly and unlawfully introduced dangerous contraband—heroin—into Cayuga Correctional Facility."
Gorman was made to resign from DOCCS, the District Attorney added. His sentencing is set for November 2026.
“This defendant betrayed the trust placed in him as a correctional officer and put the safety and security of our correctional facilities at risk,” Cayuga District Attorney Antonacci said. “Drugs have no place inside our correctional facilities, and we will continue to work closely with DOCCS and law enforcement to hold accountable anyone who attempts to bring contraband into our prisons.”
Send tips or corrections to jasonbnicholas@gmail.com or, if you prefer, thefreelancenews@proton.me