Savannah Standard

Two newly unsealed federal indictments charge 23 defendants in widespread conspiracies that used drones to deliver methamphetamine, marijuana, and cell phones to Georgia state prisons.

The indictments, USA v. Hall, et al., and USA v. Harris, et al., were unsealed in U.S. District Court, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The primary charge in each indictment, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine, carries a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison, along with substantial financial penalties and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

“These indictments identify networks of individuals determined to introduce into prisons controlled substances and other contraband that compromise the safety and security of individuals who are held in those facilities and those employed there, and further endanger members of the outside public,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We’re grateful to the many federal, state and local law enforcement agencies whose cooperative work unraveled these criminal operations.”

Investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces by agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Georgia Department of Corrections Criminal Investigations and Intelligence divisions, with assistance from multiple local law enforcement agencies, Operation Night Drop identified two networks of prison inmates and outside conspirators who used drones and other methods to deliver large quantities of drugs, cell phones, and other contraband to Smith State Prison in Glennville, Ga., Telfair State Prison in McRae-Helena, Ga., and various other Georgia state prisons. The indictments allege the conspiracies began as early as 2019 and continued through July 2024.

In addition to the conspiracy charges, multiple defendants are charged with Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility. The indictment provides detailed information revealing the use of cell phones to coordinate the sale of drugs and other contraband, direct activities of conspirators outside the prisons, and arrange deliveries using drones. Text messages and Facebook Messenger exchanges between the defendants included aerial images of prisons, drug quantities and prices, photos of drones, drugs, cell phones, materials used for packaging contraband.

The indictments include notices that the government seeks forfeiture of a total of 10 drones and 21 firearms seized during the investigation.

The 15 defendants charged with conspiracy in USA v. Hall et al., are:

- Alan Hall (a/k/a “Strong,” a/k/a “Krook”), 44

- Deivon Waller (a/k/a “Hitman,” a/k/a “VP”), 33

- Travious Bateman (a/k/a “Nut”), 39

- Asa Ward (a/k/a “Foolay”), 28

- Devonn Collins (a/k/a “Vonn”), 28

- Torlandus Fuller (a/k/a “Mustafa$upa”), 33

- Martin Holmes (a/k/a “The Mayor”), 33

- Raymond Razo (a/k/a “Flako”), 36

- Anisha Usher (38)

- Marquez Chandler (25)

- Chad Henry (26)

- Katrina Hampton (28)

- Jamar Hill (37)

- Raane Onessimo (29)

- Donald Pate (51)

Seven defendants named in USA v. Harris et al., are charged with conspiracy:

- Robert Harris (a/k/a “Messiah,” a/k/a “Dean”), 32

- Kelvin Rogers (a/k/a “Gangsta”), 38

- Quinton Samples (a/k/a “JR”), 29

- Thomas Cothran (a/k/a “Shoota,” a/k/a “Tee”), 37

- Quintaveous Samples (a/k/a "Peewee"), 26

- Quinesha Oliver (27)

- Tristahn Ash(a/ka "Mohawk"),27

David Williams(35) is charged along with Ash for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamineand possession offirearminfurtheranceofdrugtraffickingcrime.

Of23defendantsintwoindictments,sixwerenotincustodyatanytimeduringconspiraciesandeachallegedlycontactedincarceratedco-defendantsinfurtheranceoftheconspiracy.Criminalindictmentscontainonlycharges;defendantsarepresumedinnocentunlessproven guilty.OperationNightDropwasinvestigatedunderOrganizedCrimeDrugEnforcementTaskForces(OCDETF).OCDETFidentifiesdisruptsanddismantleshighest-levelcriminalorganizationsthreateningU.Susingaprosecutor-led,intelligence-driven,multi-agencyapproach.ThecasewasinvestigatedbyDEA,GADepartmentofCorrectionsCriminalInvestigationsDivision,GADepartmentofCorrectionsIntelligenceDivision,andlocallawenforcementagenciesincludingLowndesCountySheriff’sOffice,TelfairCountySheriff’sOffice,TattnallCountySheriff’sOfficeCalhounCountySheriff’sOffice,CobbCountySheriff’sOfficeMcRae-HelenPoliceDepartment,Eufala,Ala.PoliceDepartment,andisbeingprosecutedforU.S.bySouthernDistrictofGeorgiaAssistantU.S.AttorneysTimothyP.DeanandPatriciaG.Rhodes.