Police Interrupt Prison Drone Delivery

A Texas man is accused of using a drone to try to drop cell phones and other contraband into a federal prison.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at 12:20 PM ET

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Turner was allegedly operating a “hexacopter” drone like this one, with a maximum payload of 12 pounds. [Courtesy: U.S. Department of Interior]

Key Takeaways:

Davien Phillip Turner was indicted in Beaumont, Texas, for attempting to use a drone to smuggle contraband like cell phones and tobacco into a federal prison.
He faces federal charges for operating an unregistered drone and flying without an airman's certificate.
This incident is part of a nationwide trend where individuals use drones to drop illicit items into prison facilities.

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A federal grand jury has indicted a man in Beaumont, Texas, after police said they caught him trying to use a drone to fly contraband into a prison.

The indictment charged Davien Phillip Turner, 44, with owning or operating an unregistered drone and serving or attempting to serve as an airman without an airman’s certificate, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas, announced Tuesday.