Second arrest made in elaborate scheme to sneak drugs, contraband into Lincoln prison
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A Lincoln man was arrested Friday in a drug smuggling scheme at a Lincoln prison in 2023.
Donovan Youngman, 27, appeared in court for the first time on Monday on charges of delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful acts in the department of corrections.
This is the second arrest made in this case, as 31-year-old Kelly McCormack was arrested on Dec. 27 and faces the same charges.
SEE ALSO: Affidavit: Man helped sneak contraband via socks, tennis balls into Lincoln prison
An investigation began on Dec. 28, 2023, when the Nebraska State Patrol said McCormack dropped off Youngman on the northwest side of the prison.
Youngman then threw two tennis balls and four socks over the fence, according to an arrest affidavit.
Corrections staff found the items in the snow, the affidavit says. The tennis balls were covered in duct tape and spray-painted white
A few weeks later, investigators found that the tennis balls contained 33.3 grams of marijuana.
The socks contained a charger, two cellphones, an unopened box of Newport cigarettes, an L-shaped metal fitting and $1.28 in coins, according to the affidavit.
According to court documents, an inmate had been communicating with McCormack using code words to discuss the contraband.
Investigators later learned that an unknown person dropped off the two phones at McCormack’s home “several months prior,” an affidavit says.
Just days before the contraband was found, McCormack went to a Walmart in Lincoln with another man to purchase two phone cards, which were used to activate the phones.
The affidavit alleges McCormack had also acquired the marijuana found in the tennis balls.
Two days after the contraband was found, McCormack picked up Youngman and dropped him off at the Lincoln bus depot, the affidavit alleges. Youngman left on a bus to an unknown destination that morning.
Youngman’s bond was set at 10% of $250,000 and his next court appearance is set for May 20.
Charges have yet to be filed against the third alleged co-conspirator.
