Cleveland, Ohio – A Maumee man has been sentenced to nearly 12 years in federal prison after being caught mailing books soaked in illegal drugs to inmates. The sentencing of Austin Siebert, 30, was handed down on November 18 by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, who ordered him to serve 140 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
Siebert pleaded guilty in August to several serious offenses, including Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Court records noted that Siebert had prior convictions for Aggravated Trafficking in Drugs in 2018 and Robbery in 2021, further complicating his legal standing.
According to federal court documents, prison officials at Grafton Correctional Institution in Lorain County began noticing suspicious activity when Siebert repeatedly mailed packages to several inmates. The packages, disguised as innocent books, raised red flags and were eventually sent to a forensic laboratory. Analysis of the books confirmed the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, specifically 5-Fluoro-ADB and MDMB-4en-PINACA, both of which are potent illegal substances often used in smuggling operations due to their high toxicity and difficulty to detect.
Federal investigators soon obtained a warrant to search Siebert’s home in Maumee, where they discovered further evidence of his drug distribution scheme. Inside the residence, agents located a paperback book suspected to be soaked with narcotics, a loaded Bersa Thunder .380 semiautomatic pistol, and bags containing suspected pills and powdered drugs. They also found a book binding machine and package mailing labels, tools believed to be essential in the operation of disguising and shipping the drug-laced books.
“This case is a strong example of the creativity criminals may use to get drugs into prison systems, and how collaborative investigations are essential in stopping it,” said officials involved in the investigation.
The case was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol and staff at Grafton Correctional Institution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Segev Phillips prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.
Siebert’s sentence reflects the severity of the charges and the broader dangers associated with introducing dangerous narcotics into correctional institutions.
