4 Arrested After Meth-Soaked Mail Sent To San Diego County Jail

SAN DIEGO, CA — Four people were arrested for trying to smuggle drugs into jail using methamphetamine-soaked mail, authorities said.

Deputies from the sheriff's mail processing center intercepted three envelopes that were saturated with meth and addressed to an inmate at an unspecified detention facility in San Diego County, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's Detention Investigations Unit determined that the envelopes, which contained greeting cards, were intended for 33-year-old inmate Kevin Ball.

Detectives identified Ajshanee Clariday, 33, as the sender. She conspired with Ball on names to use for deliveries, mailing times, drug sourcing and payment methods, but ultimately mailed the drug-soaked cards at Ball's direction, according to the sheriff's office.

Detectives at the San Diego County Probation office arrested Clariday on Dec. 12, 2025, on suspicion of supplying controlled substances to an incarcerated person, bringing controlled substances into a jail and criminal conspiracy, according to the sheriff's office.

After further investigation, detectives identified Fredrick Perez, 55, as an accomplice who helped supply and prepare the meth-soaked mail, according to the sheriff's office.

DIU detectives and deputies from the Community Policing and Problem-Solving Unit in Santee served a search warrant Jan. 27 at a home in the 1000 block of Woodlawn Avenue in Chula Vista, where Perez was arrested on suspicion of supplying controlled substances to an incarcerated person, bringing controlled substances into a jail and criminal conspiracy.

Daniel Gracia, 34, was also arrested in the home on an outstanding felony warrant from San Diego County. Luis Rios, 44, was arrested by detectives outside the same home on suspicion of drug-related charges.

Ball, who was already in sheriff's custody on an unrelated case, was charged Thursday on suspicion of supplying controlled substances to an incarcerated person, bringing controlled substances into a jail and criminal conspiracy.

Authorities urged anyone with information about drugs being smuggled into detention facilities to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or sdcrimestoppers.org.