12 charged with using former Macon daycare to store contraband, fly it into prisons
A former Macon daycare was used as storage for illegal items and contraband sent to multiple prisons across the U.S., federal prosecutors announced in a news conference Wednesday.
Officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Transportation announced a federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday. The indictment alleged 12 individuals were part of a conspiracy to “use six (heavy payload) drones to drop illegal contraband at least 38 times into ten federal prisons” from September 2023 until May 2026, according to a news release from federal prosecutors.
They used a former daycare in Macon to store methamphetamine, marijuana, suboxone, K-2, saw blades used as weapons and escape tools, cell phones and tobacco, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia Will Keyes said in a news conference Wednesday held at his office on Mulberry Street.
The individuals allegedly coordinated drops in 10 prisons across West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia and Mississippi, according to federal prosecutors.
“To put this issue into perspective, some state and federal prison drone smuggling contraband have been so frequent that the facility looked like a small airport in the evening,” Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of the FBI office in Atlanta, said. “This is a serious public safety issue.”
Who are the individuals named in the indictment?
The following individuals were charged in connection with the conspiracy:
- Ira Christopher Jackson, 42
- Kenna Middleton, 45
- Leviticus Blash, 42
- Chrystal Dunn, 37
- Jeff Richardson, 23
- Tysean Richardson, 23
- Glenn Middleton, 70
- Aaron Hubbard, 37
- Xavier Maxwell, 30
- Lametheus Douglas, 47
- Robert Lee Whisby Jr., 51
- James Phillips, 51.
Jackson, who allegedly ran the former Macon daycare, referred to as “The Lab,” is charged with conspiracy to provide contraband in prison and possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, K-2 and suboxone with intent to distribute. He also faces firearm possession as a convicted felon, conspiracy to tamper with evidence and operating an unregistered drone.
Federal prosecutors say he faces life in prison.
Jackson allegedly coordinated contraband drops at prisons where Douglas, Whisby, Hubbard and Phillips were incarcerated. The four inmates allegedly used contraband cellphones to schedule the drops.
Douglas, Whisby and Phillips were charged with one count of providing contraband in prison and face five years in prison, federal prosecutors said. Hubbard was charged with conspiring to provide contraband in prison and conspiring to distribute K-2. He faces 30 years in prison.
Kenna Middleton was accused of flying the drones, storing contraband and communicating with prisoners “by traveling to the federal prisons to help with the drone flights and drops,” according to prosecutors. She was charged with conspiring to provide contraband to prisons and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and K-2.
She is also charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, traveling in aid of racketeering, using a communication facility to facilitate the commission of felonies and operating an unregistered drone. Kenna Middleton faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Glenn Middleton was accused of storing contraband and narcotics at his home. He’s charged with providing contraband to prisons, conspiring to distribute marijuana and cocaine, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
He faces 20 years in prison, “plus a minimum of five years imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence if convicted of the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,” according to federal prosecutors.
Dunn allegedly drove and served as a lookout for drone drops. He faces life in prison after being charged with conspiring to provide contraband in prison, conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana, traveling in aid of racketeering and using a communication facility to facilitate the commission of felonies.
Blash was accused of traveling to the prisons to help with drone flights and drops. He’s charged with conspiring to provide contraband in prison, conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and K-2, and travelling in aid of racketeering. He faces life in prison.
Jeff and Tysean Richardson allegedly also flew drones, federal prosecutors said. Both face life in prison after being charged with conspiring to provide contraband in prison, conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana. Jeff Richardson was additionally charged with traveling in aid of racketeering.
Maxwell was accused of preparing and packaging contraband for the drone drops, federal prosecutors said. He faces 20 years in prison after being charged with conspiring to provide contraband in prison and conspiring to tamper with evidence.
“We take the safety of our federal prison system very seriously, and I’m not just talking about the guards and staff, I’m talking about the inmates, too,” Keyes said. “And so any individual considering introducing contraband into our prison system, especially on this scale, can expect the full attention and resources of the United States government.
“There are very harsh consequences and serious penalties for this conduct, and we will stop at nothing to make sure that we ensure the safety of our correctional institutions.”
