Catskill man sentenced for jail contraband, forgery

KINGSTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Catksill man was sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to first-degree promoting prison contraband and second-degree forgery. Ivan Serrano, 47, will serve a total of seven to 14 years in state prison.

According to the Ulster County District Attorney's Office, Serrano was indicted on second-degree forgery charges in July 2022 for passing a forged check at the M&T Bank in Saugerties while he was under parole supervision for a prior felony conviction in Ulster County Court in 2018. Authorities say while in the Ulster County Jail, Serrano was found in possession of several contraband items on January 19, 2023.

While awaiting prosecution, the Ulster County District Attorney's Office says Serrano was indicted again for possessing a dangerous item designed to threaten security employees and the safety of others at the Ulster County Jail on June 25, 2023. On March 23 this year, Serrano was again found to possess two sharp weapons in the Ulster County Jail.

Authorities say he continued to act dangerously despite action being taken against him in August 2023 for stabbing another inmate with a shank at the Ulster County Jail.

“It is imperative to send a strong message that conduct which threatens or portends violence with a weapon in the Ulster County Jail is not different from similar conduct on any of our streets," said District Attorney Emmanual Nneji. "Corrections Officers and staff of the jail must be assured that they will go home to their families after their shift at work is done; likewise, inmates who are serving their time or are awaiting prosecution on their pending cases must be able to go home to their loved ones at the time of release. Mr. Serrano’s persistent manufacture, possession, and use of dangerous contraband in the Jail is a threat to the safety of all in the facility; he must be treated seriously with appropriate concern for the safety and wellbeing of others. Given that he previously used one such weapon to stab another inmate, it cannot be said he was making and possessing these weapons as a hobby to pass time – he is dangerous.”