Twelve Indicted in Alleged Drone Smuggling Conspiracy at Ten Prisons

MACON, Ga. - An indictment was unsealed this morning charging twelve individuals in a vast alleged conspiracy using drones to smuggle contraband, such as drugs and cell phones, into ten prisons across eight states, including Georgia, representing the largest federal prosecution to date involving coordinated drone operations to smuggle illegal items into prisons.

The 17-count indictment in Case No. 5:26-cr-00026 was returned by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Georgia on June 10 and unsealed on June 24. According to the indictment, beginning in September 2023 until May 2026, the defendants allegedly engaged in a conspiracy to use six drones to drop illegal contraband at least 38 times into ten federal prisons: Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Atlanta; FCI Beckley (Beaver, West Virginia); FCI Jesup (Georgia); Federal Medical Center (FMC) Lexington (Kentucky); FCI Manchester (Kentucky); FCI Memphis (Tennessee); Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Petersburg (Hopewell, Virginia); FCI Pollock (Louisiana); FCI Talladega (Alabama); and FCI Yazoo City (Mississippi).

The following individuals are charged by indictment:

Ira Christopher Jackson, aka "Chris," "CJ", "Action," "Action Jackson," 42, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled substance (K-2); one count of possession with intent to distribute a schedule III controlled substance (suboxone); one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence; and two counts of owning and operating an unregistered drone and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Kenna Middleton, aka "Cuz," "K Day," "KD," 45, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled substance (K-2); one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of travel in aid of racketeering; two counts of use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act; and one count of owning and operating an unregistered drone and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Leviticus Blash, 42, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance (K-2); and two counts of travel in aid of racketeering and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Chrystal Dunn, 37, of Macon and Greenville, South Carolina, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of travel in aid of racketeering; and two counts of use of a communication facility in causing or facilitating the commission of felonies under the controlled substances act and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Jeff Richardson, 23, of Macon and East Point, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; and one count of travel in aid of racketeering and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Tysean Richardson, 23, of Macon and East Point, Georgia, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and is facing a maximum of life in prison.

Glenn Middleton, 70, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison, plus a minimum of five years imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence if convicted of the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Aaron Hubbard, 37, a BOP inmate, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled substance (K-2) and is facing a maximum of 30 years in prison.

Xavier Maxwell, 30, of Macon, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and one count of conspiracy to tamper with evidence and is facing a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Lametheus Douglas, aka "Mephy," 47, a BOP inmate, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and is facing a maximum of five years in prison.

Robert Lee Whisby, Jr., aka "Lil Pumpkin," 51, a BOP inmate, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and is facing a maximum of five years in prison.

James Phillips, 51, of Jacksonville, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and is facing a maximum of five years in prison.

According to court documents, the BOP had a drone detection system that provided alerts when drones were within the vicinity of BOP properties. In addition to alerting that drones were present, the system provided information on the drone's make, model, and drone identification number, along with the launch location, flight path, and altitude.

Heavy payload drone as seen at press conference announcing unsealing of indictment in

U.S. v. Jackson et al in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.

Illegal items and contraband allegedly dropped during the conspiracy were methamphetamine, marijuana, and other controlled substances; objects including saw blades designed and intended to be used as weapons and to facilitate escape; cell phones; and tobacco.

As further alleged in the indictment, Jackson used a former day care center, referred to as "The Lab" by the defendants, to store items used in the conspiracy, and five of the drones were routinely activated at and near "The Lab" in the days leading up to prison contraband drops. In addition, Jackson allegedly communicated with federal prison inmates to facilitate the contraband drops. Kenna Middleton allegedly assisted in flying drones, storing contraband, and communicating with federal prison inmates to facilitate the drops. Blash allegedly assisted in the contraband drone drops by traveling to the federal prisons to help with the drone flights and drops. Dunn allegedly provided transportation and served as a lookout for the drone drops. Jeff and Tysean Richardson allegedly flew drones for contraband drone drops. Glenn Middleton allegedly stored items to support the contraband and narcotics conspiracies at his home. Maxwell allegedly helped to prepare and package contraband for the drone drops.

The indictment alleges that Douglas, a BOP inmate at FCI Manchester and FMC Lexington; Whisby, Jr., a BOP inmate at FCI Memphis; Hubbard, a BOP inmate at FCI Beckley; and Phillips, a former BOP inmate at FCI Jesup, FCI Talladega, and other BOP facilities; all utilized contraband cell phones to schedule contraband drops at their federal prisons.

U.S. Attorney William R. "Will" Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia; Director William K. Marshall III of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of FBI-Atlanta; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris of the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Southern Region, made the announcement.

The initial appearances for the defendants will occur in the U.S. Magistrate Court in the Middle District of Georgia at times set by the Court. The defendants are in federal custody.

FBI-Atlanta, BOP, and DOT-OIG are investigating the case. Today's arrests were made possible thanks to the assistance of the BOP Special Investigative Services and its Intelligence & Investigations Unit, along with FBI-Jacksonville, DEA-Atlanta, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office, and several state and local agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.