Authorities foil plot to smuggle meth into jail

REDWOOD CITY >> Authorities on Thursday announced the arrests of five women inmates at the Maple Street Correctional Center in connection with a scheme to smuggle methamphetamine into the jail.

The San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division launched an investigation about a month ago after corrections staff intercepted several cards and letters that had been dipped in liquefied methamphetamine and mailed to the inmates, the sheriff’s office said.

The inmates had planned to distribute the drug inside the jail, the sheriff’s office said.

On Dec. 22, the task force served search warrants in Burlingame, Daly City and San Francisco, resulting in the seizure of more than 10 ounces of methamphetamine and thousands of dollars in suspected drug money, as well as the arrest of Richard Wood, 54.

The Daly City resident was booked on drug and conspiracy charges. He is being held in lieu of $700,000 bail.

The inmates were re-arrested on charges of attempting to bring a controlled substance into a correctional facility, attempted possession of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy. They were identified as Rhiannon Lawler, 37, of San Francisco; Shelby Myers, 26, of San Mateo; Peweli Pinkston, 27, of East Palo Alto; Sara Regan, 34, of San Francisco; and Jean Stoller, 36, of Pacifica.

Four suspects are being sought in connection with the case. They were identified as Bridgette Chavis-Damon, 38, of Redwood City; Ephraim Manlapaz, 44, of San Francisco; Nancy Sanchez, 32, of San Francisco; and Agnes Banquerifo-Taylor, 47, of Pacifica.

“This case highlights the ongoing commitment of the sheriff’s office to running safe correctional facilities,” Capt. Paul Kunkel said in a statement. “We will continue to investigate and take action on any criminal activity that endangers the safety of our staff or the safety of the inmates in our custody.”

Anyone with information about the case or the whereabouts of the at-large suspects can contact Special Agent Rich Daly at 650-5733991 or rdaly@smcgov.org, or the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office anonymous tip line at 800-547-2700.