Story by Ethan
On January 14th, 2026, the arrest of Lorenzo Manuel (43), Natasha Laing (51), and Steven Davis (43), was announced by Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark. All three defendants were charged with first and second-degree Promoting Prison Contraband and multiple degrees of Conspiracy. Steven Davis was additionally charged with second and third-degree Bribe Receiving, Official Misconduct, Grand Larceny, Petite Larceny, Corrupting the Government, Defrauding the Government, and Falsifying Business Records. The arrest and charges against Lorenzo Manuel, Natasha Laing, and Steven Davis were a result of an investigation handled by Correction Officer Investigators Pawel Watroba, Ernesto Gonzalez, Brian Hilario and Squad 1 from the New York City Department of Investigation, NYPD Detectives Sandy Nunez, Milton Feliberty, Jennifer Cordero, Sergeant Louis Meade, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Squad.
According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, allegedly Steven Davis used his position as a NYC DOC officer to meet with Lorenzo Manuel at the 5 North housing building of OBCC on multiple dates to smuggle in contraband. On July 3rd, 2024, an unspecified amount of contraband tobacco was delivered. On August 15th, 2024, a carton of cigarettes valued at $10,000 in the jail, an unspecified amount of marijuana, a lighter, and security tools were handed over. The specific tools had the ability to unfasten screws in light fixtures and vent grates to create hiding spots for contraband like cell phones, lighters, and tools. On October 26th, 2024, Steven Davis delivered unspecified contraband that he had received earlier from Natasha Laing. Allegedly Steven Davis left his OBCC post to drive to Harlem, New York, and meet with Natasha Laing who provided him with more contraband to smuggle for Lorenzo Manuel. When the two would meet in Harlem allegedly Steven Davis would accept cash payments alongside the contraband, totalling to over $5,000 paid out in bribes. In addition to allegedly accepting bribes for smuggling contraband, Steven Davis allegedly committed time theft totalling in $7,783 stolen from January 2024 until March 2025.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Lorenzo Manuel, Natasha Laing, and Steven Davis are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
