PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A former Philadelphia correctional officer is one of three people accused of smuggling contraband, including drugs and weapons, into a Philadelphia prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania announced charges on Thursday.
Over the course of a month in 2021, Breyanna Cornish, 29, who worked as a correctional officer at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, conspired with Ahmad Nasir, 43, who is incarcerated, and Jawayne Brown, 40, to bring opioids, knives, cigarettes and cell phones into the prison in exchange for payment, federal officials say. The prison was on lockdown at the time.
Authorities say Nasir would get Brown to gather the contraband and deliver it to Cornish, who then delivered it to Nasir in prison.
In exchange, Cornish received more than $10,000 through money transfer apps. Nasir would then sell the contraband behind bars.
Nasir has been in prison awaiting trial on charges of identity theft, forgery and gun offenses.
Cornish faces bribery and conspiracy charges. If convicted, she faces 15 years behind bars and a fine of up to $500,000.
Nasir and Brown are also charged with drug offenses relating to a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute Suboxone, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. They face the potential punishment of decades in prison, and a $1 million or more in fines.
Editor’s update, Sept. 1, 2025:
In May 2025, Cornish, Brown and Nasir pleaded guilty in connection with the alleged scheme. Nasir and Brown pleaded guilty to a bribery charge and several drug offenses. Cornish pleaded guilty to two bribery charges. All three are expected to be sentenced in October and each face more than a decade in prison.