Sheriff: Child's drawings used to smuggle drugs into jail

SOMERVILLE - Pablo Picasso once said that art washes dust away from the soul of everyday life.

But detectives in the Somerset County Sheriff's Office found that a child's drawings may have been intended to do more for an inmate at the county jail.

Sheriff Frank J. Provenzano announced Thursday that a Bridgewater woman has been charged with using children’s drawings to smuggle drugs to her incarcerated boyfriend.

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.

READ: Sheriff probing how drugs got into Somerset County Jail

READ: Bridgewater man charged with smuggling drugs into jail​

On June 15, during the inspection of mail addressed to Gill, administrative personnel 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 Sheriff Office K-9 Apex was called and indicated the presence of Suboxone concealed in the drawings, the sheriff said.

Suboxone is a prescription drug to help heroin users kick the 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 discovered to contain drawings with suspected Suboxone.

Eight days later, on June 28, more mail addressed to Gill arrived at the jail. Again, K-9 Apex indicated the presence of suspected narcotics.

When the mail was inspected, suspected Suboxone was found hidden on the paper, Provenzano said.

The investigation by the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau identified Giles as the person who was who was trying smuggle the 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.

“Our detective unit, in collaboration with our Corrections Division, continuously investigates, charges and prosecutes any and all crimes associated with the smuggling of narcotics into the Somerset County correctional facility,” Provenzano said. “Our goal is to make sure we keep a safe and secure environment for all.”

Jail officials regularly inspect mail that has been sent to inmates, for the safety of the facility, jail personnel and inmates.

"They do an outstanding job," the sheriff said.

State regulations do not allow strip searches at the jail because most of the inmates have not been convicted but are waiting for the disposition of the charges against them, the sheriff said. Strip searches are allowed in state prisons.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com