COLDWATER – Two prisoners at the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater are now charged with drug smuggling.

Branch County District Court officials say 40 year old Michael Stone and 34 year old Matthew Siders are charged with conspiracy to bring contraband into the prison in September of 2020. If convicted, the men also face fourth time habitual offender sentencing enhancers.

Court officials say that a third suspect, 32 year old Amber Duren, plead guilty to attempting to furnish contraband to prisoners. She was sentenced in January to a nine month jail sentence and placed on one year probation. The Michigan Department of Corrections discovered the plan to smuggle the drugs into the prison located on the north side of Coldwater. Michigan State Police investigated the matter and determined Duren, who was Sider's girlfriend, was going to throw the drugs over the perimeter fence.

Four other inmates were involved in the plot. Investigators asked the prosecutors working the case to file charges against them. Other agencies that helped with the investigation included the Branch County Sheriff's Department K-9 officer, the Southwest Enforcement Team, a Michigan State Police K-9 officer and the MSP Aviation Unit.