Alleged chicken wing deal leads to arrest of Travis County corrections officer

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Travis County Sheriff’s Office, or TCSO, correctional officer was charged with allegedly bringing contraband into the county’s correctional facility. The alleged contraband: chicken wings.

On Aug. 21, a corrections officer with TCSO’s Security Threat Intelligence Unit “became aware” that Corrections Officer Amos Nyanway allegedly “provided chicken wings to an inmate” in exchange for money, according to a TCSO press release issued Tuesday afternoon.

An investigation began shortly after, and Nyanway was placed on administrative duties during the investigation. He was fired on Tuesday and TCSO said that he has been arrested.

Nyanway started working with TCSO on June 17, 2024.

“I’m disappointed that a Travis County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officer made such a foolish decision. We hold our employees to a high standard of conduct and accountability. We simply cannot tolerate contraband of any type being brought into our secure facilities,” said Sheriff Sally Hernandez in the release.

Bringing contraband into a correctional facility is a class B misdemeanor. It carries with a possible jail sentence of up to 180 days and/or a fine of up to $2,000, according to the Texas Penal Code.