A 17-count federal indictment unsealed Thursday charges 12 individuals in a vast conspiracy using drones to smuggle drugs, weapons and cellphones into 10 prisons across eight states, marking the largest federal prosecution of its kind to date.
The indictment, returned June 10 by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia, alleges the defendants used six drones to drop contraband at least 38 times between September 2023 and May 2026.
The targeted Bureau of Prisons facilities included Federal Correctional Institution Atlanta; FCI Jesup in Georgia; FCI Beckley in West Virginia; Federal Medical Center Lexington and FCI Manchester in Kentucky; FCI Memphis in Tennessee; Federal Correctional Complex Petersburg in Virginia; FCI Pollock in Louisiana; FCI Talladega in Alabama; and FCI Yazoo City in Mississippi.
According to court documents, investigators tracked the operations using a prison drone detection system that captured the make, model, identification number, launch location, flight path and altitude of the aircraft.
The dropped items allegedly included methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids (K-2), suboxone, cocaine, tobacco, cellphones and saw blades intended to be used as weapons or for escapes.
Prosecutors allege Ira Christopher Jackson, 42, of Macon, directed the operation from a former daycare center known as “The Lab,” where five drones were routinely activated before drops.
Jackson, who faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, is charged with conspiracy to provide contraband, multiple drug distribution conspiracies, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, evidence tampering and operating unregistered drones.
Four other Macon residents face maximum life sentences for their alleged roles: Kenna Middleton, 45, accused of flying drones and storing contraband; Leviticus Blash, 42, accused of traveling to prisons to assist flights; Chrystal Dunn, 37, who allegedly served as a lookout; and Jeff Richardson, 23, accused of flying drones. Tysean Richardson, 23, of Macon and East Point, Georgia, also flew drones and faces a maximum life sentence.
Glenn Middleton, 70, of Macon, allegedly stored contraband at his home and faces up to 20 years in prison. Xavier Maxwell, 30, of Macon, allegedly packaged the contraband and faces up to 20 years.
The conspiracy also involved current and former inmates who allegedly used contraband cellphones to schedule deliveries. Aaron Hubbard, a BOP inmate at FCI Beckley, faces up to 30 years in prison.
Inmates Lametheus Douglas, at FCI Manchester and FMC Lexington, and Robert Lee Whisby Jr., at FCI Memphis, each face up to five years. James Phillips, 51, of Jacksonville, Florida, a former inmate at FCI Jesup and FCI Talladega, also faces up to five years.
You can read the full article at WV News.