Michael Ray Acosta, a 48-year-old inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison, has been given a five-year sentence for his role in conspiring to distribute drugs via drone drops, acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith disclosed. Court documents reveal that between May and August 2021, Acosta used an unauthorized cellphone to successfully orchestrate the deliveries of methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and other contraband into the correctional facility, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Partners in crime, Joshua Gonzalez, Jose Oropeza, Rosendo Ramirez, and David Ramirez Jr., were identified as Acosta's accomplices who operated the drones. They strategically flew these unmanned aircrafts over the prison to deploy packages directly into the hands of waiting inmates. Acosta, who now has to contend with an additional five-year term, was one of five individuals to face charges stemming from "Operation Night Drop," an initiative aimed to clamp down on such aerial contraband insertions, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the packages dropped by the drones not only contained drugs but also cellphones, cellphone accessories, and a variety of other items, all of which were meant for distribution across the prison population. These incursions, becoming more prevalent, prompted federal agencies including the FBI, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the FAA, supplemented by the DEA, to investigate and ultimately reveal the breadth of this smuggling operation.
As the case against Acosta and his group continues, more court dates are coming up. Jose Oropeza will be sentenced on July 28, and David Ramirez is expected to plead guilty that same day. Gonzalez and Rosendo Ramirez will be back in court on June 11, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation leading to Acosta's sentencing was part of a larger effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which brings together different agencies to take down major criminal groups. Prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca, the case highlights the ongoing fight between clever criminals and law enforcement working to keep prisons secure, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
