Terri Lynn Outer, 50, of Montague, New Jersey, was arrested Wednesday, June 24, on charges of bribery, providing or possessing contraband in prison, and conspiracy to provide or possess contraband in prison, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Outer worked as a contractor at the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville from January 2024 through August 2025, where she served as a dental assistant, prosecutors said.
According to the criminal complaint, Outer allegedly solicited and accepted payments from inmates, former inmates, their family members, and associates in exchange for smuggling prohibited items into the prison.
Investigators allege she received more than $163,000 through the scheme and maintained extensive communications with inmates and their associates, including discussions about bringing a package weighing more than six pounds into the facility.
Authorities said prison staff searched a Health Services supply room on Aug. 1, 2025, to which Outer had access. During that search, investigators allegedly found around 3.2 pounds of marijuana and 6.7 pounds of loose-leaf tobacco.
The complaint also alleges Outer researched online whether tobacco or contraband wrapped in foil could be detected by prison scanners. After the contraband was discovered, investigators allege she searched phrases including "how to beat a lie detector," "can you get jail time for bringing tobacco into [sic] inmates," and "Rules for Bringing Contraband into NY 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 two contraband-related charges. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge.
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