TONIGHT AT 6 – 23 PEOPLE ARE FACING INDICTMENTS… ACCUSED OF USING DRONES TO SMUGGLE DRUGS AND OTHER CONTRABAND … INSIDE MULTIPLE GEORGIA STATE PRISONS. WJCL 22 NEWS’ ANDY COLE JOINS US NOW LIVE AT THE U-S DISTRICT COURT IN SAVANNAH. AND ANDY .. THEY USED A DRONE SIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU HAVE? THAT’S RIGHT… IF YOU’RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THEM: THIS IS A DRONE. YOU COULD GET ONE LIKE IT FOR A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS ONLINE. PRETTY ACCESSIBLE. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY THIS GROUP KNEW THAT… AND TOOK ADVANTAGE. THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE 23 DEFENDANTS NAMED IN A PAIR OF NEWLY UNSEALED FEDERAL INDICTMENTS. PROSECUTORS SAY THEY USED 10 DRONES TO SMUGGLE MARIJUANA… METH AND CELL PHONES INTO SMITH STATE … TELFAIR STATE AND OTHER GEORGIA PRISONS. THE INDICTMENT SAYS THIS CONSPIRACY BEGAN BACK IN 2019 AND CONTINUED THROUGH JULY OF THIS YEAR… INVOLVING BOTH INMATES AND SEVERAL PRISONS AND FRIENDS ON THE OUTSIDE. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS PROVIDE A PUBLIC GLIMPSE INTO THE CONSPIRACY USING TEXTS SENT BETWEEN THE DEFENDANTS. LIKE THIS 2019 CONVERSATION ON THE POTENCY OF THE MARIJUANA BEING PURCHASED BETWEEN DEIVON WALLER AND AN UN-INDICTED CO- CONSPIRATOR… THESE OTHER TEXTS BETWEEN TWO DEFENDANTS SHOW HOW MUCH WENT INTO THE PLANNING… “WHAT YOUR GONNA DO IS PUT THE 5 PHONES A PIECE IN THE 4 BAGS, TAKE 50 PHONES OUT THE BOXES AND JUST PUT THEM IN A BAG, COMPRESS 3 CANS A PIECE AND GRAB ONE BAG OF MORESO OG (MARIJUANA) AND LEAVE IT BY ITSELF.” THE NEXT REPLIES SHOW THAT WAS DONE EXACTLY HOW IT ASKED OF THEM. OTHER MESSAGES FEATURE PICTURES OF THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED: VACUUM SEALER… HYDRAULIC PRESS… AND OF COURSE: DRUGS. AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO FLY… THE DEFENDANTS SENT MAPS WITH COORDINATES OR PINPOINTS TO SHOW EXACTLY WHERE THE DROP SITE WAS… “MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ON ALL BLACK TO SHAWTY.. OR A DARK COLOR SO YOU’LL BLEND IN.” “THE BEST TIME TO STRIKE IS WHEN IT’S RAINING TO SHAWTY… REMEMBER THAT.” OF THE 23 DEFENDANTS… PROSECUTORS SAY SIX OF THEM WEREN’T EVER INMATES. THEIR JOB WAS TO HELP THOSE ON THE INSIDE. BUT NOW – ALL 23 COULD BE FACING 10 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR THEIR PART IN THE CONSPIRACY. IN ALL – FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY THEY SEIZED 10 DRONES AND 21 FIREARMS OVER THE COURSE OF OPERATION NIGHT DROP AS THEY CALLED IT. NOW ALL 23 WILL GO TO TRIAL… WHICH HASN’T YET BEEN SET
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Federal indictments accuse nearly two dozen defendants of Georgia prison drone drop conspiracy
23 defendants, many of them current inmates, face charges in connection to a widespread conspiracy to use drones to deliver drugs and cell phones to Georgia state prisons.
Updated: 6:15 PM EDT Aug 21, 2024
Above file video: Former Georgia inmate stabbed in a state prison calls for changeNewly unsealed federal indictments accuse nearly two dozen defendants, many of them current inmates, of a widespread conspiracy to use drones to deliver drugs and cell phones to Georgia state prisons. The indictments, USA v. Hall, et al, and USA v. Harris, et al, were unsealed in U.S. District Court.The primary charge in each indictment, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, carries a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison, along with financial penalties and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.There is no parole in the federal system.RELATED170+ people have died inside Georgia prisons in 2024. How college students are hoping to fix thatGeorgia Department of Corrections recovers murder-suicide gun. How did it get in Smith State Prison?Indictment: Georgia mayor bought alcohol, left it in ditch for state prison inmates“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 Jill Steinberg.Operation Night Drop identified two networks of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena and other Georgia state prisons.The indictments allege the conspiracies began as early as 2019 and continued through July 2024. The 15 defendants charged with conspiracy in USA v. Hall, et al., are:Alan Hall, a/k/a “Strong,” a/k/a “Krook,” 44, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in JacksonDeivon Waller, a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP,” 33, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in JacksonTravious Bateman, a/k/a “Nut,” 39, of Covington. Bateman was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 7, 2022Asa Ward, a/k/a “Foolay,” 28, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in JacksonDevonn Collins, a/k/a “Vonn,” 28, of Locust Grove. Collins was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 12, 2019, and again from Sept. 5, 2019 to April 14, 2020Torlandus Fuller, a/k/a “Mustafa$upa,” 33, of Lithonia. Fuller was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Oct. 1, 2021Martin Holmes, a/k/a “The Mayor,” 33, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in OglethorpeRaymond Razo, a/k/a “Flako,” 36, currently incarcerated at Telfair State Prison in McRae-HelenaAnisha Usher, 38, of CovingtonMarquez Chandler, 25, of Conyers. Chandler was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Nov. 9, 2021 to June 2, 2023Chad Henry, 26, of ConyersKatrina Hampton, 28, of Killeen, TexasJamar Hill, 37, of Tucker. Hill was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 3, 2020, and again from Dec. 15, 2020 to Jan. 6, 2022Raane Onessimo, 29, of Powder SpringsDonald Pate, 51, of Valdosta. Pate was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Jan. 3, 2019 to Jan. 6, 2021Seven of the eight defendants named in USA v. Harris, et al., are charged with conspiracy.Robert Harris, a/k/a “Messiah,” a/k/a “Dean,” 32, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in OglethorpeKelvin Rogers, a/k/a “Gangsta,” 38, currently incarcerated at Smith State Prison in GlennvilleQuinton Samples, a/k/a “JR,” 29, of Atlanta. Samples was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 10, 2022Thomas Cothran, a/k/a “Shoota,” a/k/a “Tee,” 37, currently incarcerated at Ware State Prison in WaycrossQuintaveous Samples, a/k/a “Peewee,” 26, of JonesboroQuinesha Oliver, 27, of JonesboroTristahn Ash, a/k/a “Mohawk,” 27, currently incarcerated at the Metro Reentry Facility in Atlanta. Ash had been in custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections prior to the start of indictment, was released on Aug. 5, 2020, and reentered Department of Corrections custody on May 11, 2023The eighth defendant, David Williams, 35, of Atlanta, is charged along with Ash with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.This is a developing story. Check back for updates RELATEDJailers arrested, accused of sneaking contraband into Georgia prison plagued by violence, corruption’A piece of my heart is gone’: Lawsuit claims Georgia prison inmate, 27, died from heat exposureGeorgia prison problems: 911 calls reveal violence at Rogers State Prison
Above file video: Former Georgia inmate stabbed in a state prison calls for change
Newly unsealed federal indictments accuse nearly two dozen defendants, many of them current inmates, of a widespread conspiracy to use drones to deliver drugs and cell phones to Georgia state prisons.
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The indictments, USA v. Hall, et al, and USA v. Harris, et al, were unsealed in U.S. District Court.
The primary charge in each indictment, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, carries a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison, along with financial penalties and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
RELATED
“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 Jill Steinberg.
Operation Night Drop identified two networks of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver drugs, cell phones and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena and other Georgia state prisons.
The indictments allege the conspiracies began as early as 2019 and continued through July 2024.
The 15 defendants charged with conspiracy in USA v. Hall, et al., are:
- Alan Hall, a/k/a “Strong,” a/k/a “Krook,” 44, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson
- Deivon Waller, a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP,” 33, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson
- Travious Bateman, a/k/a “Nut,” 39, of Covington. Bateman was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 7, 2022
- Asa Ward, a/k/a “Foolay,” 28, currently incarcerated at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson
- Devonn Collins, a/k/a “Vonn,” 28, of Locust Grove. Collins was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 12, 2019, and again from Sept. 5, 2019 to April 14, 2020
- Torlandus Fuller, a/k/a “Mustafa$upa,” 33, of Lithonia. Fuller was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Oct. 1, 2021
- Martin Holmes, a/k/a “The Mayor,” 33, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe
- Raymond Razo, a/k/a “Flako,” 36, currently incarcerated at Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena
- Anisha Usher, 38, of Covington
- Marquez Chandler, 25, of Conyers. Chandler was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Nov. 9, 2021 to June 2, 2023
- Chad Henry, 26, of Conyers
- Katrina Hampton, 28, of Killeen, Texas
- Jamar Hill, 37, of Tucker. Hill was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until Feb. 3, 2020, and again from Dec. 15, 2020 to Jan. 6, 2022
- Raane Onessimo, 29, of Powder Springs
- Donald Pate, 51, of Valdosta. Pate was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections from Jan. 3, 2019 to Jan. 6, 2021
Seven of the eight defendants named in USA v. Harris, et al., are charged with conspiracy.
- Robert Harris, a/k/a “Messiah,” a/k/a “Dean,” 32, currently incarcerated at Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe
- Kelvin Rogers, a/k/a “Gangsta,” 38, currently incarcerated at Smith State Prison in Glennville
- Quinton Samples, a/k/a “JR,” 29, of Atlanta. Samples was in the custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections until March 10, 2022
- Thomas Cothran, a/k/a “Shoota,” a/k/a “Tee,” 37, currently incarcerated at Ware State Prison in Waycross
- Quintaveous Samples, a/k/a “Peewee,” 26, of Jonesboro
- Quinesha Oliver, 27, of Jonesboro
- Tristahn Ash, a/k/a “Mohawk,” 27, currently incarcerated at the Metro Reentry Facility in Atlanta. Ash had been in custody of the Georgia Department of Corrections prior to the start of indictment, was released on Aug. 5, 2020, and reentered Department of Corrections custody on May 11, 2023
The eighth defendant, David Williams, 35, of Atlanta, is charged along with Ash with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates
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