Attorney accused of trying to smuggle marijuana, tobacco, phones into federal prison

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — A practicing attorney from Rochester faces federal charges after she attempted to smuggle cellphones, marijuana and tobacco into a federal prison in Youngstown, Ohio, according to court documents.

Ivy Collins-Harris attempted Tuesday to bring contraband into the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, according to a federal affidavit. Investigators seized approximately 57 grams of suspected marijuana, 1,090 grams of tobacco, eight iPhones and multiple chargers.

Collins-Harris identified herself as an attorney representing two inmates, according to the affidavit, even though she did not represent either of them. She was stopped at a security checkpoint before she could get into the prison, and officers found two vacuum-sealed packages of tobacco and marijuana inside a brown accordion folder. A search of her purse uncovered more tobacco in a hidden compartment.

The phones and chargers were found inside two laptops that had their internal components removed, according to the affidavit. A search of her vehicle uncovered another phone.

Collins-Harris, who was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 2024, was charged with attempting to provide contraband in prison, according to court documents. She was released from jail on $20,000 bond.

In a filing dated Thursday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio called to revoke her release and issue an emergency arrest warrant after Collins-Harris failed to report to pre-trial services following her release.

Collins-Harris had been arrested in New York state less than a week before her arrest in Ohio. The Seneca County Sheriff's Office said Collins-Harris, 37, of Rochester stole items belonging to someone else at a business in Tyre. She was arrested Sept. 16, charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, before being released on an appearance ticket.