Feds indict 23 for using drones to drop drugs and cell phones into Georgia prisons

Nearly two dozen people face indictments for delivering drugs and cell phones into George state prisons via aerial drones, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The Justice Department announced 23 people were indicted in a conspiracy scheme, dubbed Operation Night Drop, to deliver meth, marijuana and cell phones to prisoners at Georgia's state prisons. Charges range from possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute to unlawful use of a communication facility from 2019 to July 2024.

Six of the 23 indicted weren't incarcerated at the time of the scheme.

The two indictments were unsealed Wednesday, the DOJ announced.

“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,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia Jill Steinberg said in a release.

Those charged allegedly coordinated the deliveries over Facebook and text messages and had aerial images of prisons; quantities of the drugs and prices; photos of drugs, phones and drones; and the materials and packaging used for the contraband.

Court docs: Defendants arranged exchanges over text messages

Among the allegations about transporting illicit items into prisons, U.S. District Court documents revealed the 23 people charged coordinated how they would deliver and receive the items.

In several instances, those charged sent messages to one another inquiring about their whereabouts, how to get into prisons and what they were dropping off, according to court papers. Some of the conversations in the court documents detailed how to evade flight restrictions and conceal contraband within permitted items.

"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.

Upon arrest, 10 different drones and 21 guns were seized from some of the 23 people during the investigation, court papers said.

Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at knurse@USATODAY.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter,@KrystalRNurse.