A former Travis County corrections officer has found himself on the wrong side of the bars after allegedly smuggling chicken wings into the county's jail for an inmate. In a scenario fit for a crime-drama script, but significantly less high-stakes, Amos Nyanway was arrested and subsequently lost his job over the poultry-based barter arrangement.
According to CBS Austin, a fellow officer with the Travis County Sheriff's Office's Security Threat Intelligence Unit got wind on August 21 of Nyanway's activities, sparking an investigation. Nyanway was reassigned to administrative duties in light. The suspicion was finally confirmed—chicken wings had been exchanged for cash.
Having started his term at the sheriff's office on June 17, 2024, Nyanway's employment was terminated on Monday following the allegations. While the smuggling of food might seem trivial to some, the sheriff's office stands firm on their zero-tolerance policy regarding contraband. "I'm disappointed that a Travis County Sheriff's Office Corrections Officer made such a foolish decision," Sheriff Sally Hernandez was quoted in a statement obtained by KXAN. "We hold our employees to a high standard of conduct and accountability. We simply cannot tolerate contraband of any type being brought into our secure facilities."
The charge facing Nyanway is contraband in a correctional facility, a Class B misdemeanor, which could net him up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine of $2,000. While the financial gains from the ill-fated chicken wing exchange are unknown, it's clear that the price Nyanway is paying far exceeds any amount he might have received. As Sheriff Hernandez put it, the breach of trust is simply not part of the recipe for maintaining a secure facility.
