Magna woman faces felony charges for attempting to smuggle drugs into Utah prisons

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Investments in technology, law enforcement professionals, and drug-sniffing K-9s helped stop drugs from entering the state prison, according to the Utah Department of Corrections.

Authorities arrested a woman suspected of attempting to mail hundreds of drug-infused sheets of paper to inmates at the Utah State Correctional Facility and the Central Utah Correctional Facility.

48-year-old Julie Rae Sawyer, of Magna, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail and charged with 2 first-degree felony charges of distribution of a controlled substance and 1 second-degree felony charge of possession with intent to distribute.

MORE | Utah’s State Prison System

“UDC’s investment in law enforcement tools has paid off,” said Jared Garcia, UDC’s executive director. “This arrest proves the value of our new surveillance technology in monitoring calls, detecting illegal substances, and holding those responsible accountable. Smuggling contraband is unacceptable, and this is evidence we are serious about stopping it.”

“If you are caught bringing, sending, introducing, or conspiring to introduce contraband into our facilities, you are actively compromising safety and interrupting opportunities for people to rehabilitate. We will save a cell and bed for you,” Garcia added.

Officials obtained video evidence and used the footage to trace drug-infused sheets of paper to Sawyer.

A search warrant was obtained for her home in Magna. According to UDC investigators, they found more of the paper at her home.

K-9s detected the drug-infused sheets of paper; UDC mail staff also found paper at the facilities.

_______