Federal authorities in Georgia have charged 12 people in what prosecutors describe as a multi-state drone smuggling operation that allegedly moved drugs, cellphones, and weapons into federal prisons over a period of several years.
A 17-count federal indictment unsealed last week by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia accuses nine civilians and three federal inmates of participating in a coordinated conspiracy that operated from September 2023 through May 2026.
Prosecutors allege the group conducted at least 38 separate drone drops targeting 10 federal correctional facilities across Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia.
Investigators say the operation was centered at a vacant former daycare facility in Macon, Georgia, which was allegedly used as a staging area for preparing, loading, and launching drones.
Court filings and officials refer to the location as “The Lab,” describing it as the coordination point for flights and contraband packaging prior to delivery runs toward prison facilities, according to the Washington Times.
Prosecutors allege the network included participants both inside and outside federal custody.
Inmates reportedly used contraband cellphones to communicate with outside associates to coordinate timing and drop locations.
Individuals outside prison walls are accused of handling drone flights, storing and packaging contraband at residences, and traveling to correctional facilities to assist with launches or act as lookouts during operations.
Federal investigators say at least six heavy-payload drones were used in the alleged scheme, each capable of carrying significant amounts of contraband.
Items allegedly delivered into prisons included methamphetamine, marijuana, synthetic drugs such as K-2, suboxone, and various tools and weapons, including saw blades and equipment believed to be associated with escape attempts.
Authorities said the volume and frequency of drone activity near certain facilities became so pronounced that prisons appeared heavily trafficked at night, with repeated flights detected over secure perimeters and fenced areas, according to WGXA.
U.S. Attorney William R. Keyes said during a briefing that the case represents a significant escalation in prison smuggling prosecutions involving unmanned aircraft systems.
He said the operation involved “38 drops at 10 federal prisons” and described it as the largest prosecution of its kind in the United States involving drone-based contraband smuggling.
FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham said the operation posed serious safety risks both inside correctional institutions and in surrounding communities.
She said introducing drugs and weapons into prisons allows continued criminal activity behind bars and fuels broader networks of violence and drug distribution outside prison walls.Â
All 12 defendants are currently in federal custody. Prosecutors say they face charges including conspiracy to provide contraband in prison.
Additional charges vary by defendant and include drug trafficking conspiracies, firearms offenses, distribution of controlled substances, travel in aid of racketeering, and operating unregistered drones.
If convicted, defendants face potential sentences ranging from five years to life in prison depending on the specific counts and alleged roles outlined in the indictment.
Federal agencies involved in the investigation include the FBI, the Bureau of Prisons’ investigative units, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and multiple state and local law enforcement partners across several jurisdictions.
Officials said the investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to assess the full scope of the alleged operation and its connections to prison-based criminal activity.
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