A Michigan resident has admitted guilt in a plot to use a drone for smuggling Contraband into a federal prison. This case highlights the growing concern of drones being used for illegal activities at correctional facilities, as reported by WGEL.

The Guilty Plea

Marvin Graves, 42, from Mt. Morris, Michigan, pleaded guilty to 12 criminal charges in Bond County Circuit Court on September 13. Here’s what went down:

11 charges for attempting to smuggle contraband into prison (Class 2 felonies)
1 charge for unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver (Class 3 felony)

Graves got 4.5 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the contraband charges and 3 years for the cannabis charge. He’ll serve these sentences at the same time.

The Drone Plot

The scheme involved using an industrial drone to drop packages into the Greenville Federal Correctional Institution. The contraband included:

Cell phones
Chargers
Cords
Cannabis

Graves and his alleged accomplice, Ananaiois Wilson Jr., were busted on July 21 while parked on a country road near the prison. They had the drone and three packages ready to go.

Legal Consequences

Judge Christopher Bauer handed down the sentence as part of a plea deal. Graves also agreed to forfeit items seized during his arrest.

Meanwhile, Wilson’s pleaded not guilty and wants a jury trial. This case shows how serious authorities are taking drone-related crimes.

DroneXL’s Take

This incident is part of a troubling trend we’ve been following at DroneXL. Drones offer amazing benefits for first responders and legitimate businesses, but they’re also being misused for criminal activities. It’s crucial that we find ways to prevent these illegal uses while still promoting responsible Drone Technology.

Recent articles on our site have covered innovative drone detection systems being deployed at prisons to combat exactly this kind of smuggling attempt.

What’s your take on using drones for prison smuggling? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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