PELHAM, Ga. — A Georgia man accused of trying to fly drugs into a state prison has earned the dubious honor of being the first person convicted for violating a federal drone law.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 35-year-old Eric Lee Brown of Lithonia, Georgia pleaded guilty to one count of operating an aircraft eligible for registration knowing that the aircraft is not registered to facilitate a controlled substance offense.
The lengthy title for the crime could also mean a lengthy sentence of up to five years in prison with three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 pending a judge's decision.
“We are pleased to see justice being served on this individual, and we hope that his actions, and subsequent prosecution in the first-known criminal prosecution under this drone registration law, will serve as a warning to others considering introducing contraband into our facilities,” said Timothy C. Ward, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections.
It all stems from a 2018 incident in which authorities said Brown attempted to use a drone to drop a large bag of marijuana into Autry State Prison in Pelham, Georgia. Mitchell County deputies responded to reports of a vehicle blocking traffic near the prison. They soon found Mitchell, smelled marijuana and saw the drone.
"They also saw two clear plastic bags containing a green, leafy substance that later was confirmed to be 294 grams of marijuana," a statement from U.S. Attorney Charles Peeler said.
Search warrants later revealed detailed conversations of how he would use the drone - DJI Phantom 4 - to make the drug drop. It turns out the method of delivery escalated the crime to a level that Brown may not have expected.
"The use of drones is regulated by federal criminal statutes, and our office will not hesitate to use those statutes in the fight against prison contraband,” Peeler said. “I applaud the Department of Transportation, the Georgia Department of Corrections, and our local law enforcement for thinking creatively to bring this defendant to justice.”
Brown was found to not have a Federal Aviation Administration Airman's Certificate or a Remote Pilot Certificate - both of which the U.S. Attorney's office said are required by law.
Several local, state and national agencies investigated the crime. And on the federal level, Todd Damiani with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General hopes that involvement of all those groups shows just how seriously authorities take these kinds of crimes.
"DOT OIG special agents, along with our federal, state, and prosecutorial law enforcement partners, will actively pursue those who unlawfully use federally-regulated modes of transportation for the distribution of controlled substances or contraband,” he said.
Brown made his plea as part of a signed plea agreement before U.S. District Court Judge Louis Sands.
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