Last Friday, Sullivan County prosecutors unsealed an indictment that reads like a script from a prison drama, accusing former Woodbourne Correctional Facility officer Kyle Raven of sneaking methamphetamine and contraband cellphones into the medium-security prison in exchange for more than $17,000, authorities say. A grand jury also brought charges against several incarcerated people and an outside vendor allegedly tied to the operation. Officials say the investigation kicked off after correctional staff confiscated multiple banned phones and traced records that pointed to a broader smuggling network inside the facility.
Alleged scheme and payments
Prosecutors say Raven did not work alone. According to the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office, he allegedly accepted a mix of cash and Cash App transfers totaling more than $17,000 from inmate Andrew Stoughtenger and Amy Preston. Preston, who prosecutors say also goes by Amy Stoughtenger, allegedly funneled some of those payments through her company Freedom Foods, a New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision vendor, to make the money look legitimate. District Attorney Brian Conaty publicly labeled the operation a “highly calculated and orchestrated conspiracy” when he announced the indictments. The county said the case was built with help from the New York State Police and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations.
Charges and next steps
A Sullivan County grand jury handed up a lengthy indictment charging Raven with multiple felonies, including bribe receiving, promoting prison contraband, money‑laundering and official misconduct, and he has pleaded not guilty, as reported by Times Union. Co-defendant Amy Preston also faces charges. Both Raven and Preston were released on bail with additional non‑monetary conditions while the case plays out. They are due back in Sullivan County Court at the end of the month, with the next appearance scheduled for July 27, according to the Times Union.
How investigators found the plot
Authorities say the scheme came into focus in February, when other correctional officers recovered several contraband phones from incarcerated people and uncovered records that appeared to map out the smuggling pipeline, according to Spectrum News. From there, State Police and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations joined forces with the Sullivan County District Attorney’s Office to dig into the alleged network. Investigators say the operation was organized and ran on multiple occasions inside Woodbourne, rather than being a one-off favor gone wrong.
Contraband and corruption beyond Woodbourne
What prosecutors describe at Woodbourne mirrors a broader pattern of contraband slipping into New York prisons, from drone drops to staff contacts, that local reporting has highlighted in recent weeks, according to midnight drones rain drugs and phones. In Sullivan County’s statement, officials warned that cellphones “are, indeed, dangerous contraband” because they sidestep prison monitoring systems and can be used to coordinate criminal activity beyond the walls. Advocates and corrections officials say that tightening up systems to catch and deter employee corruption remains an ongoing priority as investigations extend beyond a single facility.
What’s next
Raven and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to return to Sullivan County Court on July 27, per reporting by Times Union. Prosecutors say the investigation is still active and was developed with assistance from the New York State Police and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations, as covered by Spectrum News. Early coverage of the unsealed indictments also appeared in Daily Voice.
