Elmira, NY – A 32-year-old inmate at the Chemung County Jail faces new charges after authorities say he was allegedly caught with fentanyl during a jail search earlier this summer.
According to the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, deputies discovered an unknown substance on June 20, 2025, while conducting a search inside the facility. The Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division tested the material and determined it was fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid linked to overdose deaths nationwide.
As a result of the investigation, the inmate, identified as Zachary M. Smith, was arrested on charges of Promoting Prison Contraband in the 1st Degree, a Class D felony, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
Smith is already incarcerated at the Chemung County Jail on an unrelated charge. He is expected to be arraigned in Elmira City Court at a later date, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office did not release additional details on how the fentanyl allegedly entered the jail.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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