Abraham Maldonado was found guilty of possessing contraband because he supposedly tried to smuggle some cash into Livingston Correctional Facility.
In response to a tip that the money was left in one of prison's toilets, officers intercepted the container and replaced its contents with a decoy. And when Maldonado later entered the restroom to mop its floor, he was found standing right next to the packet (which had been dislodged from its hiding place).
While Maldonado asserted that he was never in actual possession of any contraband, the Appellate Division, Third Department, rejected that argument, noting that the officers' interception of the cash (before Maldonado ever got to it) didn't require dismissal of the charges.
Finders keepers?
To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Matter of Maldonado v New York State Dept. of Corr. Services