SOMERVILLE, N.J. — A New Jersey woman has been charged with using children’s drawings to smuggle drugs to her boyfriend in jail, authorities say.
The boyfriend, Michael Gill, 38, of Oxford also faces charges along with his girlfriend, Casey Giles, 37, of Bridgewater for attempting to smuggle drugs into the jail through the mail, Somerset County Frank J. Provenzano said Thursday.
On June 15, during an inspection of mail addressed to Gill, administrative personnel at the county jail noticed "oddities" hidden in children’s drawings, Provenzano said.
The sheriff did not disclose details of how the drug was smuggled in the drawings because "people may want to copy."
After the oddities were found, the Somerset County a Sheriff’s Office K-9 was called and indicated the presence of Suboxone concealed in the drawings, the sheriff said.
Suboxone is a prescription drug used to help heroin users kick their addiction. However, when it is used alone, Suboxone, an opioid, produces a high.
On June 20, another letter to Gill with children’s drawings was inspected and also was discovered to contain drawings with suspected Suboxone.
Eight days later, on June 28, more mail addressed to Gill arrived at the jail. Again, the K-9 indicated the presence of suspected narcotics.
When the mail was inspected, suspected Suboxone was found hidden on the paper, Provenzano said.
The investigation by sheriff’s detectives identified Giles as the person who was who was trying smuggle Suboxone into the jail. Giles was charged with third-degree possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.
She was remanded to the jail in lieu of $20,000 bail, cash or bond.
Gill was charged with attempting to possess a controlled dangerous substance, a third-degree offense. Bail was set at $10,000, cash or bond.
Jail officials regularly inspect mail sent to inmates, for the safety of the facility, jail personnel and inmates, Provenzano said.
"They do an outstanding job," the sheriff said.
