Federal prosecutors have accused a Los Angeles County sheriff’s agent of smuggling heroin to jail, where he was assigned to investigate gang crimes.
Michael Meiser, 39, pleaded not guilty in federal court to possession of drugs for his Smith and Wesson service weapons. Attorneys represented by the representative released on bail did not return a request for comment.
Meiser has faced charges in Los Angeles County Superior Court, conspiring to distribute heroin in Castaic's North County correctional facility with gang members.
Detectives from the Sheriff's Department's Internal Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested Meiser and his partner left the jail's parking lot on April 30, 2024.
Earlier in the day, detectives searched a bag left by Meiser inside a police cruiser and found more than a pound of heroin hidden in tubes of two pringles chips, a New York Times law enforcement record.
Meiser is accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Mexican Mafia appointed the prisoner “shooter” who controls the county to lock up Latino prisoners.
Jose Rodriguez is a famous member of the Pacoima Project boy gang called “Benji”, while Jackie “Boy” from the Victoria Park Gang pleaded not guilty to conspiring with Meiser to bring drugs to the North County punishment facility.
Meiser's partners told Interior Detectives that Rodriguez and Triplett oversee drug sales, collected blackmail “fines” from prisoners who violated Mexican mafia rules and mastered discipline through assaults.
Meiser details the Operational Security Prison, a department dedicated to investigating suspicious gang leaders.
Meiser was found carrying a bag containing $15,000, according to an internal transaction report. The report said that at his Lancaster home they found another $10,500 in his sock drawer.
