Drug-running ring used drones to deliver product inside federal prison: Reports

Nearly a dozen people have been arrested after officials announced investigators launched a probe last year into drones allegedly dropping loads of drugs into a southern West Virginia federal prison.

Eleven people including one minor are facing criminal charges in connection to the drug dealing scheme law enforcement caught onto last year in the city of Welch, a McDowell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Tuesday.

The prison is in McDowell County about 10 miles south of the state capital, Charleston, just north of the Virginia state line.

Another suspect connected to the case − a Kentucky man who the Associated Press reported fled from law enforcement when they tried to arrest him on a warrant earlier this month − was found dead on Feb. 15.

McDowell County Sheriff’s Office James ' Boomer' Muncy could not immediately be reached by USA TODAY Tuesday, but according a press release from his office obtained by the AP and WBOY-TV, his department was contacted in November by officials at the Federal Correctional Institution, McDowell for help with "increased drone use in the area" of the prison.

The following month, the outlets reported, Muncy said his office received tips about drone deliveries being made into the medium security prison.

The quantity and type of drugs reportedly dropped into the prison were not immediately known.

A McDowell County Circuit Court spokesperson told USA TODAY the defendants' charges are being handled in state court.

USA TODAY has reached out to the West Virginia Department of Corrections.

11 arrested from December through February

The sheriff said the first arrests took place in December and the most recent arrest took place this month.

The suspects face charges including introduction or attempts to introduce contraband into a correctional facility, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, unlawfully operating a drone, terroristic acts and felony conspiracy, WVNS-TV reported.

Two of the 11 suspects arrested also face charges of assault and battery on an officer and fleeing on foot, and a third suspect in the case was charged with being a fugitive from Pennsylvania, according to the outlet.

On Feb. 9, the release continues, deputies attempted to arrest 29-year-old Jose Sanchez Rodriguez of Louisville on a warrant, but "he fled on foot," according to a sheriff's office press release obtained by WBOY-TV.

On Thursday, sheriff's office deputies found him dead, the outlet reported, and his body was sent to the state medical examiner for an autopsy to determine his cause and manner of death.

It was not immediatly known where his body was found.

Suspects identified

According to the release, deputies, with help from the West Virginia State Police, arrested the following suspects in connection to the case:

• Jose Enrigue 
• Arturo Gallegos
• Dominguez Santos 
• Bailey Rene Sexton
• Hector Luis 
• Raymond Saez 
• Rivera Gamalier
• Frank Salgado
• Francisco Gonzalez
• Miguel Piceno 
• One juvenile

On Tuesday, online records showed some the suspects incarcerated at the Southwestern Regional Jail in Holden remained behind bars.

Jail records did not show whether those still in custody had retained attorneys.

Contributing: Associated Press

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.