Operation uncovers conspiracy to smuggle meth soaked letters into Lee County Jail

“Operation: Return to Sender” uncovered an elaborate operation to smuggle illegal contraband into the Lee County Jail. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says drugs were entering the jail in the form of postcards.

The Sheriff’s office says they found 24 postcards mailed to the jail that had the presence of methamphetamine on them, making it nearly undetectable.

In August, deputies began an investigation into the smuggling after receiving tips about drugs entering the Lee County Jail.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, an outside person would liquify methamphetamine and then apply it to the postcards. The postcards would then be dried and mailed to inmates through normal postal services.

Deputies say the investigation revealed another person, identified as Tiffani Roy, 33, was also mailing methamphetamine-laced postcards to the jail and receiving payment through Cash App.

Investigators monitored her communications with inmates and used that information to determine which inmates were receiving the postcards.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Roy and a drug-detecting dog indicated the presence of narcotics. They also found construction paper, and spray bottles and pre-soaked mail addressed to inmates at the jail in her car. Based on that there was enough probable cause to search the home of Roy. During the search, deputies say they found 18 grams of methamphetamine and more mail containing suboxone strips and methamphetamine.

When interviewed, deputies say Roy confessed and provided information that was corroborated by information obtained through the course of the investigation.

The Lee County sheriff’s office says the following people are facing charges of ‘introduction of contraband into a county detention facility’ and ‘attempt, solicit or conspire to commit a 3rd-degree felony.’

• Megan Howard
• Bradley Stidham
• Brian Welch
• Austin Skaggs
• Justin Beatson
• Anthony Cole
• Michael Blum
• Tiffani Roy, also facing a charge of methamphetamine trafficking

Howard, Stidham, Welch, Skaggs, Beatson and Cole were all inmates in Lee County Jail during the investigation.

Marceno says electronic mail scanners are now being used to help detect contraband entering correctional facilities.

You can watch Marceno’s press conference on the investigation again in the player below or by clicking here.