Two inmates and a former inmate are accused in a plot to smuggle heroin, a hypodermic needle and tobacco into the Butler County Prison.

The drug drop last month made it as far as the prison lobby bathroom, authorities said. But guards, tipped off by other prisoners, seized the contraband before the illicit items reached the cell block.

Charged in the scheme are Samantha Summers, 23, of Slippery Rock; her sister, Kimberly Ann Summers, 21, also of Slippery Rock; and Alyssa J. Jamison, 25, of Butler.

County detectives believe the plan involved the older Summers, who was released from the county jail March 14, working on the outside and the other suspects on the inside.

Samantha Summers on March 23, still free on bail, walked into the prison in Butler and went to the women’s rest room, detective said.

She allegedly came carrying black tar heroin, a dark and gooey material that is commonly not as pure or potent as white powdered heroin.

She also had a syringe, sandwich baggies containing chewing tobacco and a condom filled with snuff tobacco, according to court documents.

The illegal materials were left in the bathroom, intended for Kimberly Summers and Jamison, detectives said.

Other inmates with trusty-type privileges who cleaned the lobby and bathrooms were to pick up the items and get them into the prison.

However, instead of carrying out the plot those other inmates reported it to correctional officers, documents said.

Prison officials later monitored the suspects’ taped telephone calls and viewed surveillance cameras to help intercept the contraband.

Kimberly Summers, who is awaiting trial in a misdemeanor assault case, is charged with smuggling a controlled substance into the prison and conspiracy to smuggle contraband, both felonies.

Kimberly Summers, who has been jailed since Feb. 15 on a bench warrant, and Jamison, who has been jailed since March 8 on a state parole violation, are both charged with conspiracy to smuggle contraband.