STATESBORO, Ga. — Federal prosecutors have indicted 23 people, most of them current and former inmates, in what authorities said Wednesday were schemes to smuggle drugs and cellphones into Georgia state prisons using drones.
Indictments in two similar cases were unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court after being handed down by a grand jury last month. The indictments allege inmates used contraband cellphones to coordinate drone deliveries with defendants outside the prisons.
Drones were used to drop marijuana. methamphetamine and contraband phones into the yards at Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena and others over a five-year period beginning in 2019, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg’s office.
Each of the defendants faces federal drug charges, and all but six were imprisoned at some point during the smuggling incidents outlined in the indictments, federal prosecutors said.
The indictments described text and Facebook messages between defendants, including aerial images of prisons and photos of packages in vacuum-sealed bags.
One message sent by an inmate in August 2021, according to the indictments, said: “Friday gotta be after dark won’t be able to get it until kitchen help go out for breakfast.”
Another inmate’s message from January 2023 said: “We can do 2 on one battery and 2 on another battery. … I just need to know when you taking off and when the pack drop.”
Authorities seized 10 drones and 21 firearms during the drone smuggling investigations, prosecutors said.
The two prisons named by federal prosecutors in the drone smuggling cases have been tarnished in recent years by inmate violence and corruption.
The warden at Telfair State Prison was stabbed by an inmate with a homemade weapon in March as staff conducted a shakedown for contraband. He wasn’t seriously injured, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
A state investigation into a contraband inside Smith State Prison resulted in the arrest and firing of its warden, Brian Adams, in February 2023. Since then, two staff members have been killed in inmates. A correctional officer died at a hospital last October after being assaulted at the prison, corrections officials said, and in June a kitchen worker was fatally shot by an inmate with a firearm who also killed himself.
In a recent development, 23 individuals have been indicted for their alleged involvement in a contraband smuggling operation into Georgia prisons using drones. The indictments come as a result of an extensive investigation by law enforcement agencies, including the Georgia Department of Corrections and the FBI.
According to authorities, the individuals are accused of using drones to fly contraband such as drugs, cell phones, and other prohibited items into several prisons across the state. This sophisticated operation is said to have been ongoing for several months, with the individuals coordinating their efforts to evade detection and successfully deliver the contraband to inmates.
The use of drones in smuggling contraband into prisons is a growing concern for law enforcement agencies across the country. Drones provide a convenient and discreet way for individuals to bypass traditional security measures and deliver prohibited items to inmates. This poses a serious threat to the safety and security of correctional facilities, as the contraband can be used to facilitate criminal activities within the prison walls.
In response to this threat, prison authorities have been working to implement new technologies and security measures to detect and prevent drone smuggling. This includes the use of drone detection systems, increased surveillance, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to track down and prosecute those involved in these illegal activities.
The indictment of the 23 individuals involved in the contraband smuggling operation is a significant step towards addressing this issue and sending a strong message that such activities will not be tolerated. It serves as a warning to others who may be considering similar actions that they will be held accountable for their actions.
The investigation and prosecution of individuals involved in contraband smuggling using drones highlight the challenges that law enforcement agencies face in combating this emerging threat. It also underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and collaboration between prison authorities, law enforcement agencies, and technology experts to stay ahead of those seeking to exploit new technologies for criminal purposes.
As the case against the 23 individuals moves forward, it is hoped that justice will be served and that measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The safety and security of prisons and the communities they serve depend on our ability to adapt and respond to evolving threats, including those posed by drone smuggling operations.
