Eleven suspects, including a juvenile, have been arrested on suspicion of using drones to transport illegal drugs into a federal prison in West Virginia.
The investigation began last November when an employee at the medium-security federal correctional facility in Welch contacted McDowell County Sheriff James Muncie’s office.
The facility asked the sheriff’s office for assistance with the increased use of drones in the area, and in December, the sheriff’s office began receiving multiple reports of drone deliveries.
File: A coal truck passes a welcome sign on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in Welch, West Virginia. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Sheriff’s deputies arrested the suspects between mid-December and early February. Charges include introducing or attempting to introduce contraband into a correctional facility, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, unlawful operation of a drone, acts of terrorism, and felony conspiracy.
LR: Bailey Sexton, Hector Ruiz, Arturo Gallegos, Dominguez Santos. (Federal Correctional Facility McDowell)
Ten of the 11 suspects have been identified as Jose Enrigue, Dominguez Santos, Arturo Gallegos, Miguel Piceno, Francisco Gonzalez, Bailey Sexton, Hector Ruiz, Raymond Saez, Rivera Gamaliere and Frank Salgado. has been done.
Each remains jailed on cash-only bail ranging from $20,000 to $150,000. Local station WCHSTV.
LR: Jose Engligue, Raymond Saez, Rivera Gamalier. (Federal Correctional Facility McDowell)
In announcing the charges Friday, Muncy did not say what kind of drugs were allegedly brought into the facility. He did not say whether those arrested were prisoners.
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Another man from Louisville, Kentucky, who was wanted in connection with the case, was found dead last Thursday after fleeing officers on foot a week earlier.
Muncy did not say where the body was found, and the body was sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy.
One of the arrested suspects is a juvenile. Additionally, two suspects, Raymond Saez and Hector Ruiz, were charged with assault and battery on a police officer and fleeing on foot. Another suspect in the case was charged as a fugitive from Pennsylvania.
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Most of the suspects remained in custody Monday at the Southwest Regional Jail in Holden. Jail records do not indicate whether he has an attorney who could comment on the charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
