(WWJ) — A Redford woman has been charged with smuggling drugs and a cell phone to an inmate at a prison in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Frances Ramirez-Huerta was arraigned on a number of charges, including furnishing contraband to a prisoner in prison, stemming from an alleged incident at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Kincheloe — about 20 miles south of Sault Ste. Marie.
Michigan State Police say the 41-year-old woman was arrested after personnel at the prison “became suspicious after observing unusual behavior by a prisoner during a visitation” on Jan. 11.
When authorities reviewed surveillance footage they discovered Ramirez-Huerta, who had been visiting an inmate in the visitation room, had allegedly smuggled items into the facility.
The footage revealed that Ramirez-Huerta had concealed items in the waistband of her pants and they were covertly given to the inmate, according to MSP.
Authorities found two bundles of contraband during a search of the prisoner.
One bundle included 140 suboxone strips and the other bundle had seven grams of marijuana flower in packaging, as well as two SIM cards for cell phones.
MSP officials did not release any information about the inmate Ramirez-Huerta was visiting at the facility.
Ramirez-Huerta has been charged with one count each of:
• Controlled substance - creation/delivery of an analogue
• Controlled substance - delivery/manufacture marijuana
• Controlled substance - maintaining a drug house
• Furnishing contraband to a prisoner in prison
• Furnishing a cell phone to a prisoner
She was held at the Chippewa County Jail and her bond was set at $1,000 with conditions. Her next court date has been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 27.
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