Federal prosecutors have recently indicted 23 individuals, including current and former inmates, for allegedly using drones to smuggle drugs and cell phones into Georgia state prisons.
This coordinated effort, which spanned five years starting in 2019, involved dropping contraband into prison yards using drones, primarily targeting Smith State Prison in Glennville and Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, as reported by the Associated Press.
These indictments, unsealed in U.S. District Court, reveal a disturbing trend where inmates utilized contraband cellphones to orchestrate drone deliveries with accomplices on the outside.
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The illicit cargo primarily consisted of marijuana, methamphetamine, and unauthorized cellphones, all of which found their way into prison yards thanks to these aerial smuggling operations.
Feds charge 23 in prison-based Georgia drug ring aided by drones #Georgia #GeorgiaState #Prison #AtlantaBraveshttps://t.co/XU0fX8Qub3
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The schemes were elaborately planned, with inmates communicating through text messages and social media platforms like Facebook.
These exchanges often included aerial images of the prisons and photos of the contraband packaged in vacuum-sealed bags.
For instance, one inmate in August 2021 messaged, “Friday gotta be after dark won’t be able to get it until kitchen help go out for breakfast,” revealing the level of coordination required for these illegal drops. A
nother inmate’s message from January 2023 indicated, “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.”
During the course of the investigations, authorities managed to seize 10 drones and 21 firearms. These efforts underscore the seriousness of the drone smuggling operations and the lengths to which these criminals were willing to go.
The drone smuggling revelations have further darkened the already troubled reputations of Smith State Prison and Telfair State Prison.
These facilities have been plagued by violence and corruption in recent years. Notably, the warden at Telfair State Prison was stabbed by an inmate during a contraband search in March, although he was not seriously injured. Meanwhile, Smith State Prison has also seen significant turmoil.
In February 2023, its warden, Brian Adams, was arrested and dismissed following a state investigation into contraband within the prison. The prison has also been the site of tragic violence, including the deaths of two staff members at the hands of inmates.
Last October, a correctional officer succumbed to injuries after being assaulted, and in June, a kitchen worker was fatally shot by an inmate who then turned the weapon on himself.
The indictments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Georgia’s correctional facilities, where corruption and violence continue to fester, exacerbated by the influx of drugs and contraband.
Federal prosecutors are determined to crack down on these operations, but the task remains daunting as the prison system grapples with internal corruption and external threats.
This piece was written by LifeZette News Staff on August 22, 2024. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.
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Source: https://www.rvmnews.com/2024/08/23-charged-in-georgia-prison-drug-ring-using-drones/
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