Woman charged for smuggling drugs into UP prison

CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Mich. (WLUC) - A Redford, Michigan woman has been arrested and arraigned in court for smuggling drugs and communications items into a U.P. prison.

According to the Michigan State Police (MSP), Frances Ramirez-Huerta, 41, was arrested for smuggling contraband into the Chippewa Correctional Facility. Ramirez-Huerta was arrested following a collaborative investigation with Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) staff.

The MSP said the investigation began when MDOC personnel at the Chippewa Correctional Facility became suspicious after observing unusual behavior by a prisoner during a visitation. After reviewing surveillance footage, staff discovered Ramirez-Huerta, who had been visiting an inmate in the MDOC visitation room, had smuggled items into the facility.

Surveillance footage revealed that Ramirez-Huerta had concealed items in the waistband of her pants, which were covertly given to the prisoner during the visit.

A subsequent search of the prisoner led to the discovery of two bundles of contraband. The first bundle contained 140 suboxone strips. The second bundle contained seven grams of marijuana flower in packaging, as well as two SIM cards for cellular devices.

As a result of the investigation, Ramirez-Huerta faces five charges: controlled substance-creation/delivery of an analogue, controlled substance-delivery/manufacture marijuana, controlled substance-maintaining a drug house, furnishing contraband to a prisoner, and furnishing a cell phone to a prisoner.

Ramirez-Huerta was lodged in the Chippewa County Jail. She has been arraigned in the 91st District Court where her bond was set at $1,000 with conditions. She is next scheduled to be in court on 1/27/25. She is considered innocent unless proven guilty.