A Texas man is facing federal charges for delivering contraband to prisoners in a most unique way.
Bryant LeRay Henderson, 42, of Smithville, southeast of Austin, is accused of smuggling contraband to prisoners at Federal Medical Center Fort Worth via drone.
Drone deliveries are becoming a growing problem at federal prisons, which are restricted flight areas.
“Contraband drone deliveries are quickly becoming the bane of prison officials’ existence. Illicit goods pose a threat to guards and inmates alike – and when it comes to cell phones, the threat often extends outside prison walls. We are determined to stop this trend in its tracks,” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
The Justice Department says back in May, Henderson flew the drone into the prison's airspace, and it crashed in a fenced-in yard near the HVAC shop, where staff recovered it.
Henderson's vehicle was identified by a Transformers decal on the rear window, and it was found abandoned a couple weeks later.
Police impounded it and found a drone controller inside, which immediately paired with the crashed drone.
The contraband includes crystal meth, pressed THC, prepaid smartphones and mp3 players.
Henderson was arrested at his home Thursday and made his first court appearance Friday morning.
He's charged with one count each of attempting to provide contraband in prison, serving as an airman without an airman's certificate and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison for all the charges he's facing.
“The criminal element will always take advantage of new opportunities for illegal activity as technology progresses,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “In this instance, excellent collaborative investigation among federal and local agencies led to multiple federal charges and prevented contraband from entering the federal prison system.”
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