Criminals should think twice before attempting to deliver contraband via drone to South Carolina state prisons. The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has successfully interdicted multiple attempted drone contraband deliveries into state prisons in the past few months, including the arrest of several individuals.

Two of the incidents reported this year include individuals who were previously caught using a drone to deliver or attempting to deliver contraband into South Carolina state prisons.

McCormick Correctional Institution- December 2022

On January 4, 2023, the SCDC Inspector General released the arrest warrants for three men suspected of delivering contraband by drone into McCormick Correctional Institution on December 22, 2022. The information released by SCDC did not contain the make/model of the drone used.

  • Brian Francis Williams Jr., 31, of Richland County
    • Trafficking in methamphetamines more than 100 grams.
    • Trafficking in crack/cocaine more than 100 grams.
    • Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
    • Criminal conspiracy.
    • Providing contraband to prisoners.
  • Allen Jerome Benton, 43, of Hampton County
    • Providing contraband to prisoners.
    • Criminal conspiracy.
  • Donte Calloway, 31, of Colleton County
    • Providing contraband to prisoners.
    • Criminal conspiracy.

McCormick Correctional Institution- January 2023

This arrest was previously reported on C-UAS Hub. On January 26th, 2023, the SCDC Inspector General released the arrest warrant for an individual suspected of attempting to use a drone to deliver contraband into the prison on January 24, 2023.

  • Arnez Jaakim Thompson, 24
    • Trafficking in heroin, morphine, etc., more than 28 grams.
    • Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
    • Criminal conspiracy.
    • Providing contraband to prisoners.

Thompson was arrested just outside the prison on a dirt path. At the time of Thompson’s arrest, officers confiscated a backpack containing an Autel Evo II drone and two bags of contraband, including:

  • 113 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl.
  • About four pounds of marijuana.
  • About six pounds of tobacco.
  • Cellphones, cigarettes, cigars, rolling papers, lighters and other items.

Ridgeland Correctional Institution- March 2023

On March 23, 2023, the SCDC Inspector General released the arrest warrant for a Columbia man on contraband charges (again) involving inmates at Ridgeland Correctional Institution earlier that day.

  • Brian Francis Williams Jr., 31, is charged with:
    • Trafficking in methamphetamine/cocaine more than 100 grams.
    • Trafficking in heroin more than 28 grams.
    • Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
    • Criminal conspiracy.
    • Providing contraband to prisoners.

At the time of his arrest, Williams was out on bond for similar charges for an incident at McCormick Correctional Institute in December 2022. In this incident, Williams was parked on I-95 Northbound between mile markers 21 and 22. In addition to the contraband, Williams was in possession of a DJI Inspire 2 drone and eight drone batteries.

Lee Correctional Institution- April 2023

On April 13, 2023, the SCDC Inspector General released the arrest warrants for two men involving contraband charges involving inmates at Lee Correctional Institution.

  • Christopher M. Meredith, 44, and John Charles Carrington, 31, are both charged with:
    • Distribution of methamphetamines.
    • Criminal conspiracy.
    • Providing contraband to a prisoner.

In this incident, four pounds of tobacco were found attached to a DJI Inspire 2 drone near the correctional institute.

Lee Correctional Institution- May 2023

On May 2, 2023, the SCDC Inspector General released the arrest warrant for a Summerville man involving an attempt to fly contraband into Lee Correctional Institute via drone on April 29, 2023.

Joshua B. Jordan, 31, was charged with furnishing contraband to a prisoner. The charges involve attempting to fly a drone carrying tobacco into the prison yard.

At the time of his arrest, Jordan was on bond for two previous incidents- a drone contraband incident at Lieber Correctional Institution in January 2022, and attempting to set fire to a Lieber Correctional Institution contraband officer’s home in March 2022.

In the January 2022 incident involving Jordan, the contraband included four hacksaw blades, 558 grams of marijuana, 585 grams of tobacco, and three lighters.

Contraband prison drops will continue to be a challenge in South Carolina and other places throughout the United States and worldwide. This challenge is not just tackled with logical technology but also with training, policies, and procedures.

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