An Ohio man who utilized a sophisticated method to smuggle narcotics into a state correctional facility by saturating the pages of paperback books with liquid drugs has been sentenced to federal prison.
Austin Siebert, 30, of Maumee, appeared before U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent on November 18, where he was handed a 140-month sentence—approximately 11 years—followed by four years of supervised release. The sentencing follows his guilty plea in August to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The case began when staff at the Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County flagged suspicious activity involving Siebert. Investigators noted he was in frequent communication with multiple inmates and was regularly mailing book packages to the facility.
Prison officials seized several of these packages and sent them to a forensic laboratory. Analysis confirmed the paper had been treated with synthetic cannabinoids, specifically compounds known as 5-Fluoro-ADB and MDMB-4en-PINACA.
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Following the lab results, federal agents executed a search warrant at Siebert’s residence in Maumee. Inside, they uncovered a localized manufacturing operation. Evidence seized included a paperback book suspected of being soaked in narcotics, a book-binding machine used to reassemble the tampered literature, and various package mailing labels.
Agents also recovered quantities of suspected drugs in both pill and powder forms, along with a loaded .380 semiautomatic Bersa Thunder pistol. Siebert was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to prior felony convictions, including a 2018 conviction for aggravated trafficking in drugs and a 2021 robbery conviction.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with support from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and officials at the Grafton Correctional Institution.
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