Cortland (WSYR-TV) – Four people were arrested on charges including meth manufacturing and possession after an Ithaca woman allegedly tried to sneak drugs to an inmate at the Cortland jail by hiding them in a book’s binding.
According to the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office, 21-year-old Katelynne Thomas of Ithaca tried to sign in books to a person incarcerated at the Cortland County Correctional Facility.
One of the correctional officers examining the books discovered what deputies describe as a small amount of methamphetamine in the binding of a book. The officers talked to Thomas and determined that other people may have assisted her.
At that point, another officer went into the parking lot and found three other people. Deputies say that a vehicle search revealed components and equipment associating with manufacturing meth.
The Sheriff’s Office arrested all four people involved in the incident, including Thomas, on a variety of charges:
Tomas Kaiser - 22 of 86 S. Church St. Cortland
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (class D felony)
- Criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (class D felony)
- Unlawful manufacture of methamphetamine in the third degree (class D felony)
- Criminal possession of precursors of methamphetamine (class E felony)
Katelynne Thomas - 21 of 514 Warren Rd. Ithaca
- Promoting prison contraband in the first degree (class D felony)
- Attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (class E felony)
- Criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree (class A misdemeanor)
- Conspiracy in the fifth degree (class A misdemeanor)
Kara Smithgall - 23 of 1228 Campbell Rd. Apt. #10 Endicott
- Conspiracy in the fifth degree (class A misdemeanor)
- Unlawful possession of marijuana (violation)
Justin Farley - 24 of 216 Oak Hill Ave. Endicott
- Conspiracy in the fifth degree (class A misdemeanor)
