Dozens Indicted in Contraband Prison Drug Smuggling Ring Involving Drones
But the feds are working on stopping the practice. This week they revealed two indictments against prisoner networks allegedly colluding to bring contraband into prisons using flying drones.
Alan Hall, aka “Krook,” is one of the 23 people incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification prison in Jackson, Georgia, while being charged with a conspiracy to use drones to deliver illegal drugs and contraband cellphones to Georgia state prisoners.
In the two newly unsealed federal indictments published by the United States Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Georgia, it is revealed that the primary charge in both of these indictments is conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, which carries a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term, without a chance for parole, according to a DOJ press release.
“These indictments identify networks of individuals determined to introduce into prisons controlled substances and other contraband that compromise the safety and security of individuals who are held in those facilities and those employed there, and further endanger members of the outside public,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg in the release.
Operation Night Drop
During the investigation called “Operation Night Drop,” authorities discovered two networks of prison inmates who worked with people from the outside to deliver stuff to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena and other facilities starting as early as 2019, and lasting to July 2024.
Authorities seized 10 drones and 21 pieces of firearms during the investigation.
Along with the conspiracy charge, some defendants were also charged with “unlawful use of a communication facility”– using a cell phone. The two indictments– USA v. Hall and USA v. Harris– included transcripts of text conversations between the people who were charged.
In the first indictment, USA v. Hall, there are 15 defendants – Alan Hall, Deivon Waller, Travious Bateman, Asa Ward, Devonn Collins, Torlandus Fuller, Martin Holmes, Raymond Razo, Marquest Chandler, Chad Henry, Katrina Hampton, Jamar Hill, Raane Onessimo and Donald Pate.
In the second indictment, USA v. Harris, there are seven defendants – Robert Harris, Kelvin Rogers, Quinton Samples, Thomas Cothran, Quinesha Oliver, Quintaveous Samples and Tristahn Ash.
David Williams, 35, of Atlanta, listed as the eighth defendant in the USA v. Harris indictment, was also charged for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm.
Operation Skyhawk
Earlier, during “Operation Skyhawk” in March 2024, the task force managed to confiscate 87 drones, 22 pieces of firearms, 67 pounds or marijuana, and 12 pounds of methamphetamine… among other things, according to a press release by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.
They also netted 150 suspects including eight correctional officers in evidence gathered during the investigation.
“Georgia will not tolerate those who put our communities at risk by trafficking drugs, weapons, and contraband both in and out of our correctional facilities,” said Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp in his statement.
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