Investigators uncover drug deliveries to state prisons via drone

Nearly two dozen current or former inmates of the state prison system, as well as outside co-conspirators, were charged with using drones to transport illegal drugs and cell phones within prison walls.

In two federal indictments unsealed Wednesday, the 23 defendants are accused of participating in two networks of inmates and outside conspirators that supplied large quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as cell phones and other contraband, to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae and various other state prisons. The conspiracies began in 2019 and continued until last month.

The charges follow investigations conducted as part of Operation Night Drop, an initiative of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Department of Justice's Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Divisions, working with several local law enforcement agencies.

“These charges indicate networks of individuals determined to smuggle controlled substances and other contraband into prisons, endangering the safety of those incarcerated in these facilities and those who work there,” said Jill Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“We are grateful to the numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose cooperative work uncovered these criminal activities.”

The primary charge in each indictment, conspiracy to possess marijuana and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, is punishable by ten years to life in prison, plus substantial fines and at least five years of probation after serving the prison sentence.

Some of the defendants were also charged with unauthorized use of a communications facility because they used cell phones to coordinate the delivery and sale of the drugs. Text messages and Facebook posts included aerial photographs of prisons, drug quantities and prices, and photos of drones, drugs, and materials and equipment used to package contraband.

The indictment states, among other things, that the government is demanding the seizure of ten drones and 21 firearms that were confiscated during the investigation.