The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team and Mule Creek State Prison officials launched a joint investigation into the suspected smuggling activities of Lori Machado and Aimee Marotta. Photo by: Courtesy to the Ledger Dispatch

On Friday, April 17, authorities arrested two women who were attempting to smuggle methamphetamine, opiates and marijuana into Mule Creek State Prison while visiting male inmates there.

Lori Machado and Aimee Marotta were taken into custody after the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team and prison officials launched a joint investigation into their smuggling activities. Neither woman is from the area. Marotta, 38, is a resident of Hemet, and Machado, 45, lives in Tulare. The two were staying in a motel in Jackson in order to visit Mule Creek prisoners Cash Wilkerson and Derek Fenculet.

On April 17, when the two women strolled onto the prison grounds, ACCNET met them with a search warrant. Pursuant to the investigation, other ACCNET agents searched Machado and Marotta's Jackson motel room. During that inspection, they discovered 27.8 grams of methamphetamine, 24 pharmaceutical opiate pills and 26.7 grams of marijuana. The drugs were seized and the women were taken into custody.

The Hemet Police Department assisted ACCNET's investigation by searching Marotta's residence, where additional evidence was seized. The Tulare Police Department Narcotics Unit also lent a hand by conducting a follow-up search of Machado's residence. Additional evidence was seized at home as well.

ACCNET agents believe they can prove all methamphetamine seized was destined to be smuggled into the prison by Marotta and Machado. Both women have been charged with smuggling controlled substances into state prison, conspiracy, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of a controlled substance - opiates, and transportation of methamphetamine between non-contiguous counties.

Wilkerson and Fenculet were also arrested.