BRYAN, Texas – A woman who worked at a nursing home had bags of cocaine falling out of her clothes when police went to investigate claims she allegedly stole money and patients' personal things, according to federal prosecutors.
Lajuanita A. Lister was set to have her preliminary hearing Wednesday at 10 a.m.
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Lister worked as a janitor at the Lampstand Health and Rehabilitation Center when a nursing home employee said she found two bags of what appeared to be cocaine in a tote back that belonged to Lister.
"The tote bag had been searched by the maintenance manager in connection with an ongoing internal investigation of complaints of theft within the facility," according to a federal court complaint filed in the case.
Lister then gave permission, according to court documents, for staff to search the bag which had since been placed in her vehicle.
Police, who were on hand while staff searched, said Lister acted nervously and kept reaching into her pockets and "fidgeting with her waistband, as if searching for something, and twisting her left foot onto the ground."
When Lister walked back to the building, police noticed a bag with white powder on the ground where Lister has just stood.
Police arrested Lister.
At the Brazos County Detention Center, a police officer "observed a second bag containing a white powdery substance fall from Lester's clothing, the court document says.
Lister allegedly claimed "she forgot she had hidden this other bag in her shirt."
Police say they found a total of 29.6 grams of white powder that field-tested positive for crack cocaine.
Lister faces two federal charges: knowing possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and intentional possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Federal prosecutors filed the complaint June 9 but the incident took place April 16. A judge granted Lister bond Monday.
Employees at Lampstand Health and Rehabilitation could not immediately comment on Lester's employment status Wednesday morning.