5 arrested in plot to smuggle drugs into Multnomah County Jail
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Five people are facing charges for allegedly conspiring to smuggle drugs into the Multnomah County Detention Center, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office announced Friday.
Starting in December 2023, the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office reported to MCSO that a man in custody, 30-year-old Levi Denison, had reportedly been engaging in "suspicious activity."
MCSO says detectives then monitored Denison's phone calls, learning he was communicating with another in-custody adult - identified by police as 33-year-old Shawn Mastne - and people outside the jail, conspiring to smuggle drugs into the jail, including methamphetamine, heroin and buprenorphine.
The people outside the jail were identified as Rain Vaday, 26, Shelby Steelman, 27, and Danielle Young, 44.
On March 14, Denison, Vaday, Mastne, Steelman and Young were all indicted on charges including conspiracy to commit supplying contraband and conspiracy to commit unlawful delivery of controlled substances.
Mastne is also facing additional charges related to a separate drug smuggling attempt into the jail last year, when deputies allegedly found more than an ounce of methamphetamine on his person. He was indicted back in early February.
Authorities say they withheld publicly disclosing the current indictment until all suspects were found and arrested.