Albany woman admits to using legal mail to smuggle synthetic drugs into prisons, shedding light on increasing challenges in corrections and smuggling operations

Albany, New York – An Albany woman has admitted to orchestrating a scheme to smuggle synthetic drugs into correctional facilities, disguising them as legal mail. Maya McIntosh, 33, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a controlled substance, as well as unlawfully using another person’s identity. The case, investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), highlights the growing challenge of synthetic drug trafficking within prison systems.

According to recent DOJ release, federal prosecutors revealed that McIntosh’s operation ran from at least January 2023 through July 2024. During this period, she obtained chemicals necessary to manufacture MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid. The chemicals were shipped to her home and the residence of a co-conspirator. Using a process conducted inside her residence, McIntosh combined these chemicals to produce the drug in liquid form.

Once the substance was ready, she soaked business envelopes and sheets of paper with the liquid, effectively turning them into drug-laced contraband. To avoid detection, McIntosh then placed these papers inside U.S. Priority Mail Express envelopes and sent them to inmates in various correctional facilities across New York. What made her scheme particularly deceptive was her method of disguising the packages as legal correspondence. Prosecutors say she fraudulently stamped the names of real attorneys on the return addresses, giving the impression that the envelopes contained legitimate legal documents rather than illegal drugs. The attorneys whose names were used had no knowledge of the scheme.

McIntosh also used social media to expand her operation. She openly sold the drug-soaked papers to customers outside prison walls, who then paid her to mail them to incarcerated individuals. The scheme allowed the synthetic drug to infiltrate prisons under the guise of confidential legal communication, making it difficult for authorities to detect.

Following her guilty plea, McIntosh now faces severe legal consequences. Each drug-related charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Additionally, she could be fined up to $1 million for the drug offenses and an additional $250,000 for other charges. If convicted on all counts, she will also be subject to a supervised release term ranging from three years to life. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge, who will weigh several factors, including federal sentencing guidelines and the specifics of her case.

Law enforcement agencies, including USPIS and HSI, have underscored the significance of dismantling such operations. With synthetic drugs becoming a growing issue in correctional facilities, officials are cracking down on schemes that exploit legal mail privileges. The case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving methods used to smuggle illicit substances into prisons and the severe penalties awaiting those who engage in such activities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is leading the prosecution. No date has been set for McIntosh’s sentencing.