RUH-ROH TOTO; SHE KNOWS SHE IS NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE
KANSAS WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING DRUGS INTO FEDERAL PRISON IN MARTIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
AUGUST 26, 2026 – written by WADE QUEEN
BRENDA LEMUS, 26, OF WICHITA, KANSAS
A Kansas woman was arrested on Saturday, August 22 after Kentucky State Police said she smuggled suspected THC wax into the federal prison in Debord in Martin County, KY., and concealed it beneath food she gave to an inmate.
Brenda Lemus, 26, of Witcita, Kansas; was arrested on Federal Drive on charges of:
*PROMOTING CONTRABAND – 1ST DEGREE;
*POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA;
*DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
According to the KSP arrest citation, staff at the United States Penitentiary Big Sandy contacted KSP Post 9 after becoming suspicious that Brenda Lemus had introduced contraband into the facility for a male inmate she was visiting.
Prison staff reportedly observed Brenda Lemus on video retrieving a white foam food tray and preparing food for the inmate. Police said Brenda Lemus handed the tray to the inmate, who found a small white baggie concealed beneath potato chips, placed it in his mouth and swallowed it.
The prison staff immediately placed the inmate in a dry cell for observation and detained Lemus, according to the citation.
Kentucky State Police Post 9-Pikeville troopers Timothy Fletcher and Jonathan Rouse responded to the facility. The troopers said Brenda Lemus initially requested an attorney after being advised of her Miranda rights, and the questioning stopped.
According to the arrest citation, Brenda Lemus later reinitiated communication with the troopers and said she wanted to speak to them without an attorney present.
Brenda Lemus allegedly told police she had placed suspected THC marijuana wax inside a white balloon and concealed it inside her vagina before entering the facility. After passing through the facility search, she allegedly went to a restroom, retrieved the balloon and hid it in the sleeve of her sweater.
The state police said Brenda Lemus admitted concealing the suspected THC wax beneath the inmate’s food and giving him the tray.
During a search of Brenda Lemus’ vehicle on prison property, officers reportedly found suspected marijuana, several empty small white balloons and a small spoon-like device believed to have been used to place substances inside the balloons.
Brenda Lemus was transported to, booked and lodged into the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center in Paintsville in Johnson County; where she has since posted her bond and has been released from BSRDC.
There is no word if, after her immediate release from the jail, Brenda Lemus went back to Kansas by clicking her heels 3 times in row while chanting “there is no place like home”; or that she instead flew back by using a broom.
