By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Rice County Attorney’s Office yesterday filed charges against a correctional officer who was working at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Faribault. Lindsey Adams, 43, of Farmington, was charged with two felonies, third-degree possession of methamphetamine as well as introducing contraband into a state correctional facility, due to her role in a plan to deliver drugs to a prison inmate.
An Investigation by the Department of Corrections Office of Special Investigations or OSI, uncovered the plot to smuggle drugs into the prison on Sept. 3. According to OSI investigators, Adams was to deliver the drugs to an inmate inside the gym when he came to get a pass for a haircut. OSI investigators believed the planned exchange would take place that same day around 2:30 p.m. and reached out to Faribault Police Department for assistance.
The FPD detectives and OSI investigators were able to watch live video from the gym of what appeared to be the inmate handing Adams something and Adams handing something to the inmate. The inmate was detained by prison staff while Adams was confronted by prison supervisors and taken to a conference room to be interviewed.
Adams initially denied a role in the scheme and claimed she never brought drugs into the prison. She later explained that an unknown male approached her the previous week at a local convenience store and asked her “to do stuff.” She gave him her phone number and was contacted multiple times about an opportunity to make some money.
A voice message from a man, also discovered on Adams phone, instructed Adams to bring the drugs to an inmate who was going to get a haircut, along with a text telling her to “Just bring the pills and we will sell the meth.”
She later confessed to having 101 anti-depressant pills and nearly half an ounce of a substance she described as like rocks in her pockets, but maintained she did not give anything to the inmate.
The rock-like substance later tested positive for methamphetamine. Adams said she received the suspected meth the day prior from the man she met previously at the local convenience store.
Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson commended Department of Corrections investigators and Faribault Police Department detectives for their work to uncover this plot, saying:
“Ensuring public safety for Rice County includes the safety of the inmates and staff at MCF-Faribault. Great job to DOC-OSI and FPD for working together to prevent drugs from getting into the prison population within mere hours of discovering the plan.” – Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson (left)
DOC Commissioner Paul Schnell added that “the Department of Corrections is grateful for the responsive support of the Faribault Police Department and the Rice County Attorney’s Office following the DOC’s identification of potential criminal activity by a member of our staff. With more than 4,000 dedicated staff members committed to improving public safety outcomes in our state, the DOC will continue to aggressively identify and eradicate the rare but troubling instances when a member of our staff violates Minnesota laws or departmental expectations.”
It’s expected that a bail hearing for Adams will be held Wednesday morning.
