Three people were arrested Friday following a federal grand jury indictment accusing them of smuggling narcotics into a Riverside County jail.
The indictment describes a scheme in which drugs were concealed in the body cavities of at least one “drug mule” who then deliberately got arrested to deliver it inside the jail, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 10 defendants named in the indictment allegedly participated in smuggling fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin into the facility. The other seven defendants were already in custody, officials said.
“Drug smuggling endangers the lives of inmates and the sheriff’s deputies who are sworn to guard them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally. “I thank and commend our partners at the FBI and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for their dedication to this case.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco said the smuggling of drugs into jails, particularly fentanyl, has led to an increase in inmate deaths and medical emergencies in the jails.
The scheme was allegedly led by Andrew Jesus Ayala, 46, of Riverside, and members of a Riverside-based street gang. They are accused of coordinating with defendants who were already in custody, multiple facilitators, and at least one drug mule.
Beginning in 2022, investigators intercepted phone calls about the drug smuggling efforts, including the smugglers arranging temporary housing for the designated drug mules and using deliberate tactics to bypass detection like X-ray machines.
One incident in late 2022 involved an unsuccessful attempt to smuggle 1.75 ounces of methamphetamine hidden inside a defendant’s body, which was caught on the X-ray.
The 10 defendants face conspiracy charges for possessing and distributing methamphetamine, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Nine defendants are additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.