Drone operations brought drugs into prisons, leading to a total of 10 indictments

Judging by the events of the past week, drugs may be easier to find in prison than on the streets. At least two major drone shipments that flew drugs into prisons on demand were shut down by federal agents in the past week. Drones delivered not just weed, but spices/K2 drugs mimicking weed, butane oil, and an assortment of other drugs and contraband.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California on Thursday issued a press release announcing that four defendants have been charged with plotting to drone drugs into prisons.

• Michael Ray Acosta, 48 – already an inmate at Pleasant Valley State Penitentiary – is facing charges of conspiracy to sell drugs and facing federal racketeering charges.
• Jose Enrique Oropeza, 34, of Colton, California, is charged with conspiracy to own and operate an unregistered drone and multiple other counts.
• Rosendo Rene Ramirez, 34, of Sacramento, is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs using an unregistered drone and several other charges compounded by the use of firearms.
• David Ramirez Jr., 34, of Sacramento, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute drugs and multiple other charges.

“According to court documents, between January 1 and December 10, 2021, Acosta used a contraband cellphone to coordinate multiple drone deliveries of contraband to Pleasant Valley State Prison and other prisons across the state,” prosecutors wrote, adding the other three Men operated the drone fleet to deliver the drugs.

“Oropeza, Rosendo Ramirez and David Ramirez Jr. flew drones over the prisons and dropped packages of contraband into the prisons. Acosta and his associates would then procure the contraband for further distribution among the prison population. The packages that Acosta helped smuggle into the prisons contained methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, cell phones, cell phone accessories, butane oil, and various other items.

If convicted of conspiracy, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years to life in prison and fines of up to $10 million. If convicted of possession with intent to distribute drugs, defendants face a statutory sentence of five to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. Because Rosendo Rene Ramirez is a criminal and possessed a firearm, he faces additional charges that could add another 10 years and fines to his sentence.

More and more drones are being used to deliver drugs

Meanwhile, another team of criminals reportedly used drones to deliver drugs to the US prison at Leavenworth. In that operation, six others were charged with drug-related offenses.

All six people face a range of charges of conspiracy and drug possession. Dale Gaver III and Melvin Edwards – already in prison on other charges – have allegedly arranged to meet four other people outside of prison for the supply of drugs. Between August 2020 and May 2021, medication was available on demand and inmates in the prison yard could order specific medication, reports The Wichita Eagle.

• Dale Gaver III, 35, originally from Omaha, Nebraska.
• Dale Gaver II, 54, originally from Omaha, Nebraska.
• Joshua Hamilton, 37, is originally from Omaha, Nebraska.
• 33 Rex Hill, Riverside, California.
• Melvin Edwards, 44, of Riverside, California.
• Tamarae Hollman, 36, of Riverside, California.

This drone delivery operation involved men who allegedly delivered drugs to the prison via drone, reports The Sacramento Bee. In this case, drones delivered Spice/K2 drugs, marijuana, cigarettes and cell phones to the prison.

This prison is particularly notable for having housed the first people to be arrested for cannabis under the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act.

Court documents do not list the names of the defendants’ lawyers.