Warning: the following contains SPOILERS for Space Force.
Space Force season 2 still doesn't reveal the exact reason why Maggie Naird (Lisa Kudrow) is in prison for life. Wild Horse, Colorado teen Erin Naird (Diana Silvers) faces the unique dilemma of having a 4-star general for a father, General Mark Naird (Steve Carrell), and having a mother who's been sentenced to life in prison – a dynamic that hasn't ever been explored in workplace comedy, or any other genre for that matter. For the most part, the exact crime for which Maggie is in prison remains a mystery in Space Force season 2.
In Space Force season 2, episode 6, "The Doctor's Appointment," Captain Lancaster (Patton Oswalt) of the Mars mission tells Erin that his mother was in prison for selling fake cosmetics. Erin replies that her own mother's crime was “a little worse than that,” after which the episode cuts to a different scene. When their conversation resumes, the first thing Captain Lancaster says is “and she only got 20 years for that?” after which he comments that Maggie must have had a good lawyer. Back in Space Force season 1, it's been established that Maggie will be in prison for the next 40 to 60 years. This means that Maggie was charged with multiple counts of whatever crime she committed, and that Maggie's lawyer was good enough to get her sentence reduced.
Space Force will likely never reveal why Maggie is really in prison, even in Space Force season 3. The simple reason for this is because The Office creator and Space Force showrunner Greg Daniels finds it hilarious. In fact, Daniels and Steve Carrell agree that giving out little hints about why Maggie is in prison is not only funnier than revealing the whole story, but also gives the character mysterious energy. Indeed, this has led to several fan theories about Maggie's true crime, including how Maggie must've disclosed military secrets or sabotaged a rocket launch. However, if Maggie was guilty of either of these crimes, she wouldn't have retained visitation rights or be assigned to a regular maximum security prison – let alone still be allowed a conjugal visit with a general and be beloved by Mark's co-workers. Based on what Space Force has already established about Maggie's crime, here are the theories that make more sense.
Maggie Naird Helped Illegal Immigrants Enter The U.S.
Despite Maggie's 40 to 60-year prison sentence, it's clear that Mark's co-workers love her. She seems to have done a fantastic job of raising Erin as well. All this suggests that Maggie's crime wasn't anything horrible and that she broke the rules for good reasons, such as engaging in immigration crimes to help other families have better lives. Immigration crimes carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and Maggie could be guilty of multiple counts. This would certainly explain why Space Force's POTUS, who is a slightly exaggerated version of Donald Trump, seems to have a personal vendetta against Maggie, up to the point that POTUS controls Mark and Maggie's conjugal visits.
Maggie Naird Was A Drug Trafficker
Maggie's 40 to 60-year sentence could also be for drug importation and exportation, which are equivalent to a minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This is consistent with the lengthy sentences of well-known drug traffickers or narcos like Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo and Pablo Escobar. Unlike these famous drug lords whose trials lasted for years, Maggie was tried and sentenced within a year, which implies that although she was trafficker, she wasn't a drug lord. On the other hand, the quickness of her trial and sentencing could also suggest that there was more than enough evidence to immediately dole out Maggie's sentence, implying that she had a larger role in the drug trade. Maggie committing crimes related to drug importation and exportation would also explain why Maggie is thriving in prison, and it could also be related to why Erin gets bullied in Space Force season 1 with the nickname “Scraps.”
Maggie Naird Killed Someone
Murder is one of the more common theories for why Maggie is currently serving a 40 to 60-year sentence. Although Maggie hasn't shown any signs of rage or any other ominously murderous behavior, it's clear that she's a very capable woman. Space Force season 1 ended with Maggie having no trouble not just escaping prison instantly, but also locating Erin, aided by the prison guard Louise (Carolyn Wilson), Maggie's new girlfriend. Maggie clearly has both the physical and social skills necessary to at least think that she could get away with murder, which also explains why she's well-respected in prison as well as by Mark's co-workers. Moreover, the stress of upending their family's lives and moving to Colorado, combined with any other huge stressors, could be enough to drive even a good mother like Maggie to kill.
Maggie Did It Before The Nairds Moved To Colorado
The pilot episode of Space Force shows Maggie crying in bed next to Mark, presumably because she has no choice but to move to Colorado. However, it could be that Maggie is actually crying about something in her past. Whatever crime Maggie committed, it's also sensitive enough for Mark to never bring up, even up to the ending of Space Force season 2 – even after Maggie has filed for divorce. This could mean that Maggie committed the crime prior to meeting Mark, and that Mark agreed to just accept Maggie's shady past because they love each other. This explains why Mark, who is a man of his word, never discusses Maggie's crime or uses it against her during their fights. Moreover, Maggie could've done the crime in Colorado, and then later fled the state to wherever she met and started a family with Mark. This could explain why she was devastated and in tears about moving to Colorado, as she knew that the authorities would still be looking for her there.
Space Force's decision to keep audiences in the dark about Maggie Naird's crime has certainly proved fruitful for getting the show the attention it deserves. Indeed, despite having only a mostly virtual presence in the second season, Maggie continues to be a vital member of the Space Force cast. As the mystery behind Maggie's deeds prompts more fan theories and paves the way for more hilarious scenes, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that Space Force will probably never reveal the real reason why Maggie is in prison for life.