January 17, 2026 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in July of 2025, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Investigation Bureau began an investigation into an inmate coordinating with a subject outside of the jail facilities to smuggle narcotics into the jail by way of the United States Mail. Through the course of this investigation, a suspect was identified who was smuggling illicit narcotics into the jail. Additionally, multiple letters containing illicit drugs were intercepted by jail staff.

On January 16, 2026, a search warrant was served in the 4000 block of Escudero Drive in the city of Irvine. The suspect, Kimberlylynn Alvarez, a 48-year-old resident of Irvine, was located and taken into custody without incident. During the service of the warrant, deputies located several items of evidence consistent with facilitating and smuggling narcotics into the jail. Deputies also located methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and firearm ammunition.

Alvarez was arrested and later booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility for smuggling illicit narcotics into the jail, conspiracy, committing a felony while out on bail, and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

This investigation was part of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office’s ongoing mission to prevent narcotics from getting into the correctional facilities. The diligence of our deputies during searches, implementation of the nonintrusive sensor and scanning device known as the “Tek-84,” and comprehensive criminal investigations such as this are among several measures the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has taken to combat the supply of narcotics into our jail system. Inmate education is a priority within our jails, and inmates are furnished with educational material and classes about the dangers of narcotics, with an emphasis on fentanyl, provided by the Detention Health Services Division of the Riverside University Health System.

If anyone has information related to this investigation, they are encouraged to contact Investigator James Dickey at 951-955-7019 or Correctional Deputy Jerod Price at 951-922-7966.

Reporting Officer: Sergeant Matt Posson

File: BC252110003

Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office