WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – A federal inmate housed at the Federal Correctional Institution in Beckley has been indicted as part of an alleged multistate prison drug smuggling operation involving drone deliveries and contraband cellphones.
Federal prosecutors announced Wednesday that Aaron Hubbard, 37, an inmate at FCI Beckley, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance, commonly known as K-2.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Hubbard, who previously lived in Savannah, allegedly used a contraband cellphone to coordinate a drone delivery of K-2 into the Beckley federal prison.
If convicted, Hubbard faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
Hubbard is currently serving a 136-month federal sentence imposed in 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The indictment is part of a larger federal case charging 12 defendants in an alleged conspiracy to smuggle drugs and other contraband into federal prisons in eight states, including facilities in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia.
Prosecutors allege members of the conspiracy used drones to deliver drugs and other contraband into prison compounds while communicating with inmates through illegal cellphones. Investigators say the alleged operation targeted multiple Bureau of Prisons facilities, including FCI Beckley.
The remaining defendants face a range of charges that include conspiracy to provide contraband in prison, drug trafficking offenses, firearm violations, evidence tampering, operating unregistered drones and racketeering-related crimes. Several defendants are accused of flying drones, packaging contraband, transporting supplies, serving as lookouts or communicating with inmates to coordinate the deliveries.
Authorities said all 12 defendants have been arrested.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard for the Middle District of Georgia.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
