Meth Smuggled Into Dearborn Co. Jail; Three Traffickers Charged

A work release inmate is accused of using hiding the crystal meth in a "body cavity."

Andrew Shelton (left) and Timothy Sinclair. Photos by Dearborn County Sheriff's Department.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Methamphetamine entered the jail at the Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center through a work release inmate’s “body cavity” and was distributed to other inmates by a man called “Gingerbread.”

That’s the peculiar but allegedly true tale being shared by Dearborn County prosecutors.

According to a news release from the Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office, Jeremiah Hill was on work release and being housed at the county jail as he brought meth into the jail.

Jail officers searched Hill’s vehicle as it was parked outside the jail. Officers recovered a cell phone which was allegedly found to contain text messages consistent with drug activity. Hill, 21, of Lawrenceburg, would sneak meth into the jail and traffic it to another inmate, Andrew Shelton, 24, of Aurora.

In October, Hill was searched when returning to the jail after his work release job. He was discovered concealing methamphetamine in a body cavity, prosecutors said.

Crystal methamphetamine had allegedly been found in Andrew Shelton’s jail cell in September.

“When Shelton was asked where he got it, he told officers that someone delivered it to him and said ‘Jeremiah and Jake love you,’ and that someone named ‘Gingerbread’ brought him the methamphetamine wrapped in a paper towel,” said the prosecutor’s news release.

Through the investigation, officers discovered that the person called “Gingerbread” was Timothy Sinclair, 34, of Aurora.

Officers learned that Hill was allegedly bragging to other inmates about planning to bring two eight balls of meth into the jail for Shelton.

Hill has been charged with Trafficking with an Inmate (level 5 felony), Conspiracy to Traffic with an Inmate (level 5 felony), and Possession of Methamphetamine (level 6 felony).

Sinclair and Shelton are each charged with Conspiracy to Traffic with an Inmate (level 5 felony) and Possession of Methamphetamine (level 6 felony).

Timothy Sinclair and Andrew Shelton are still held in the Dearborn County Jail. A warrant has been issued for Jeremiah Hill’s arrest.