Albany Woman Pleads Guilty to Distributing Synthetic Cannabinoids to Inmates in New York Prisons

An Albany woman has admitted her part in a scheme to distribute illegal synthetic cannabinoids to inmates in correctional facilities. Thirty-three-year-old Maya McIntosh pled guilty to multiple offenses, including conspiracies to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as unlawful possession and use of identification. U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, along with other federal law enforcement officials, announced the news yesterday, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Between January 2023 and July 2024, McIntosh participated in concocting the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA, a substance likened to cannabinoids but with often unpredictable and dangerous effects. The chemicals were shipped to McIntosh and an unnamed coconspirator's homes, where they were mixed to create the liquid substance, which was then sprayed onto paper and envelopes intended for inmates. Disguised envelopes stamped with actual attorney names, without their knowledge, were sent to various New York correctional facilities, making the substances appear as legal communications.

Social media became a storefront for McIntosh's illicit business. She used it to sell the drug-soaked paper, arranging for it to be mailed to prisoners within the system. Prosecutors highlighted the cunning method of deception used to infiltrate the prisons—a tactic that undermines the security measures in place to protect both inmates and staff from the circulation of illegal substances, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Facing significant penalties, McIntosh could see up to 20 years imprisonment for each count against her, including a max fine of $1 million for drug-related charges and another quarter-million for the misuse of identification. Supposing she is convicted, her crimes carry a combo of lengthy supervised release, potentially lasting a lifetime, evolving from at least a three-year minimum. Her sentencing will ultimately hinge on statutory mandates, the applicable U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and various other factors that the judge deems relevant as part of the judicial process.

The investigation remains active, led by the United States Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is credited for prosecuting the case.