Federal prosecutors announced on Wednesday that nearly two dozen individuals are facing indictments for using aerial drones to deliver drugs and cell phones into Georgia state prisons.
The Justice Department has recently revealed that a total of 23 individuals have been indicted in a large-scale conspiracy operation known as Operation Night Drop. This operation involved the delivery of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones to inmates within Georgia’s state prisons. The charges against these individuals span from possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, to the unlawful use of a communication facility. The illegal activities took place from 2019 to July 2024.
At the time of the scheme, six out of the 23 indicted individuals were not in prison.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had unsealed two indictments.
“These indictments expose networks of individuals who are committed to smuggling controlled substances and other prohibited items into prisons, jeopardizing the safety and security of both inmates and staff members. This also poses a significant risk to the general public,” emphasized U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Jill Steinberg.
The individuals who were charged reportedly organized the deliveries through Facebook and text messages. They had access to aerial images of prisons, information on the quantities and prices of drugs, as well as photos of the drugs, phones, and drones involved in the operation. Additionally, they possessed the materials and packaging necessary for transporting the contraband.
Court docs: Defendants arranged exchanges over text messages
According to court documents from the U.S. District Court, the 23 individuals who were charged with transporting illicit items into prisons were found to have coordinated the delivery and receipt of these items.
According to court documents, individuals who were charged communicated with each other through messages, inquiring about their locations, ways to gain access to prisons, and what they were delivering. These conversations also revealed discussions on how to bypass flight restrictions and hide illegal items within allowed objects.
“The target is directly in the middle of the yard . . . we don’t have to worry about no police so we don’t kill time this is a run and gun operation . . . Get here get in the air come over drop reload drop reload drop reload drop and go,” Deivon Waller messaged Donald Pater on Jan. 16, 2023, according to prosecutors. Both men are charged in the case.
During the investigation, court papers revealed that some of the 23 individuals had 10 different drones and 21 guns seized upon their arrest.
