Woman caught smuggling drugs into prison

Officials at Calipatria State Prison said a woman was arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle marijuana into the state prison.

The Visiting Staff on Facility “B” was alerted to 29-year Monique Elizabeth Leon, who was exiting the Visitors Restroom when the staff noticed Leon smelled of marijuana. Leon is an approved visitor of inmate Miguel Ochoa convicted of Felony Vandalism.. A subsequent consented search of Leon revealed seven latex bindles, containing a combined weight of 8.0 grams of suspected marijuana, which has an estimated prison value of $2,000.

The evidence collected linked Ochoa to the introduction of a controlled substance for distribution. Ochoa was medically cleared and re-housed in Administration Segregation. Leon was booked into the Imperial County Jail and is facing felony charges. If convicted Leon is facing three to five years in prison.