A Lancaster man has been taken into custody, facing allegations that he operated a drone to deliver narcotics, including fentanyl. One of the recipients died from an overdose, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. Christopher Patrick Laney, 34, is facing a spectrum of charges, which includes the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. Laney's indictment was announced today, after a grand jury decision on September 17 that was only recently unsealed.
The indictment describes how Laney allegedly utilized an unregistered drone to make drug deliveries from his home to a church parking lot on January 17, 2023, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. On this occasion, the delivery was made to a middleman, who then provided it to the victim, known as "J.K.," who later overdosed. Further, Laney is accused of distributing narcotics using the same unregistered drone in at least three other instances.
Investigation of Laney’s residence in February 2023 uncovered not only narcotics such as methamphetamine and fentanyl but also several firearms. Among these, an AR-15-style rifle and two 9mm semiautomatic pistols, both lacking serial numbers and classified as "ghost guns," were detailed in the report. Laney is also charged with four counts of operating an unregistered aircraft in furtherance of a felony narcotics offense.
Laney is set to be arraigned in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted of all charges, the individual faces severe legal repercussions. Specifically, Laney would be subjected to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison, and could potentially face a life sentence, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyle W. Kahan of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, while the involved investigative agencies include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Federal Aviation Administration, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Center for Air and Marine Drone Exploitation.
