LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections (LMDC) is trying to crackdown on drug smuggling into its facility.

What You Need To Know

  • Corrections officers say they intercepted drugs from two inmates attempting to distribute them in the Louisville jail
  • In a separate case, a Louisville woman pleaded guilty to counts of drug trafficking after a string of incidents where she was in possession of narcotics while in custody

  • The Louisville Department of Metro Corrections has struggled with staffing and supervision amid the deaths of 13 inmates since 2021

LMDC detectives are searching for two women who they say helped smuggle drugs into the jail by working with two current inmates, Paul Strong and Joshua Struckel. Correction officers were able to intercept the drugs before they could be distributed inside the jail. 

Metro Corrections are looking for Summer Collins in connection with a drug smuggling incident at the Louisville jail. (Louisville Metro Department of Corrections)

There is an active warrant for the arrest of Maloney and Collins. Louisville Metro Police are asking for anyone with information to contact their tip line at (502) 574-LMPD (5673). 

Michelle Maloney has an active warrant for arrest in connection to an attempted drug smuggling into Louisville Metro Department of Corrections. (Louisville Metro Department of Corrections)

In an unrelated case, Toni Fisher pled guilty and was sentenced in Jefferson County Circuit Court to 22 years and one day on four different indictments for smuggling drugs into the Louisville jail. The charges include drug trafficking and illegal possession of a controlled substance, and go back all the way to 2021.

Fisher was indicted in four separate incidents in which she was in possession of and/or distributing drugs while in custody.

On Feb. 24, 2021, U.S. Marshals found Fisher with methamphetamine packaged for sale, along with heroin, fentanyl and a digital scale. She also had a handgun.

On Sept. 19, 2021, Fisher was an inmate in the Home Incarceration Program when officers did a home visit. They found methamphetamine packaged for sale and drug paraphernalia. She was taken to jail. Two days later on Sept. 21, LMDC officers found Fisher with a large amount of fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine after responding to 20 female inmates overdosing in their dorm.

Again, on Aug. 28, 2022, Fisher was an inmate with LMDC and was found with illegal opiate narcotics.

Metro Corrections has come under scrutiny recently for its mishandling of inmates in its care. Since 2021, at least 13 people have died in custody, including five from overdoses.

The deaths have prompted Louisville Metro Council to consider modernizing the facility to ensure stronger supervision. The jail also made Narcan available in its facility to combat overdoses. A recent report shows Narcan has been used almost 70 times since April 2022.

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