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Oneida County Jail inmate from Rome faced with felony charge for allegedly promoting prison contraband

Published on October 21, 2025

OCSO Jail

ONEIDA COUNTY- A county jail inmate is accused of promoting prison contraband.

Back on October 5, corrections officers began searching the cell of Frank J. Phelps, who is originally from Rome, NY. During the search, officers discovered a triangular shaped piece of metal, which was stowed out of sight above a fire sprinkler head inside of the cell.

The object was immediately determined to be a dangerous piece of contraband, but while the Sheriff’s Office continued on with their investigation, Phelps ended up being released on the charges he was being held for.

To clarify, he was transferred to probation supervision. Fast forwarding to this past Monday, a Sheriff’s Deputy took Phelps into custody at the Rome probation site and took him back to the Law Enforcement Facility, where he was formally booked on a felony charge of promoting prison contraband in the first-degree.

At press time, police said that Phelps was turned back over to the correctional facility to await further CAP Court proceedings.

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