SYRACUSE -- The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department says a Custody Department Deputy, employed by the Sheriff’s Office since 2008, resigned Monday after being charged with promoting prison contraband.
Deputies say 43-year-old David A. VanDuser, Jr., of Camillus, is accused of promoting prison contraband, a felony, and unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. The charges stem from an attempt to deliver contraband to inmates at the Onondaga County Justice Center earlier this year.
Deputies say that several months ago, detectives in the Sheriff’s Internal Affairs Unit began investigating VanDuser. The investigation began after they received information that he was bringing contraband into the Justice Center and giving the items to inmates.
Investigators found that inmates would arrange for friends and family to leave packages for VanDuser to pick up outside of the Justice Center. VanDuser would then bring the items to the inmates inside. Investigators say the packages often contained tobacco products.VanDuser worked the 3pm to 11pm shift at the Justice Center.
Deputies say they caught VanDuser attempting to bring a package into the Justice Center on Sunday night.
Detectives say they found several prohibited items including cigarettes, matches, marijuana, loose tobacco and rolling papers.
On Monday morning, VanDuser resigned from his position at the Sheriff’s Custody Department.
He was arraigned and held on $10,000 cash/$20,000 bond. VanDuser is scheduled to return to court on August 31.
