Maya McIntosh, a 33-year-old resident of Albany, was sentenced on July 31, 2025, to more than eight years in prison for her role in conspiracies to manufacture and distribute a synthetic cannabinoid. She also faced charges related to the unlawful possession and use of a means of identification.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, McIntosh admitted that from at least January 2023 through July 2024, she manufactured and distributed MDMB-4en-PINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid. The operation involved ordering chemicals shipped to her residence and that of a coconspirator. McIntosh then produced the drug in liquid form at her home and applied it to copy paper and business envelopes.
The documents were placed into U.S. Priority Mail Express envelopes addressed to inmates at various correctional facilities across New York State. To disguise the packages as legitimate legal mail, McIntosh stamped the names of real attorneys in the return address section without their knowledge or consent. She used social media platforms to sell these drug-soaked papers, receiving payment from customers who requested delivery to inmates.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Maya McIntosh endangered the health and safety of hardworking corrections officers and prison staff when she manufactured a synthetic drug and smuggled it into correctional facilities through the U.S. Mail. Now she will spend 8 years behind bars herself. I’m grateful for the collaboration between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, New York City Department of Correction Special Investigation Unit, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York that achieved this result.”
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, said: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to dedicate the resources necessary to combat drug trafficking. McIntosh’s sentencing is a result of a coordinated effort to keep contraband out of the U.S. Mail and in this case, out of correctional facilities... When the U.S. Mail is used to transport illegal drugs, it is taken very seriously. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service works diligently to preserve the integrity of the mail by investigating and bringing to justice, those who use it illegally.”
Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Buffalo added: “Maya McIntosh utilized brazen and deceptive methods to ship and smuggle synthetic narcotics into New York State correctional facilities, endangering correctional employees and others exposed to these harmful substances. This sentence reflects the seriousness of her crimes... I commend HSI Albany personnel and our partners with the USPIS, the New York City Department of Correction, and the Northern District of New York, for ensuring that Ms. McIntosh faces the consequences of her actions.”
NYC Correction Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie commented: "Maya McIntosh's sentencing should stand as a warning to anyone seeking to introduce contraband into prisons and jails: we will find you and you will be punished... The violence and loss of life prevented by the vigilance of the dedicated DOC staff who identify and investigate the presence of illegal substances in our jails cannot be understated..."
Senior United States District Judge Frederick J. Scullin Jr., who presided over sentencing, also imposed three years’ supervised release following imprisonment and ordered forfeiture exceeding $42,000 derived from offense proceeds.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including USPIS; Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Field Office; New York City Department of Correction Special Investigation Unit; with support from HSI New York Field Office; New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision; as well as Albany Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted this case.
