Grant Parish deputies say a drone, a handful of hollow plastic crows and about $40,000 in alleged payout money have landed two North Texas women in serious trouble at a federal prison in central Louisiana.
According to investigators, 38-year-old Melanie Jean Worthington of Joshua and 41-year-old Kassy Marie Cole of Hurst are accused of using a drone to drop crow decoys stuffed with drugs, cellphones and tobacco onto the prison grounds. Both women, described as being from the Dallas area, were arrested on counts tied to taking contraband into a penal institution and to alleged drug distribution.
How Deputies Say the Crow Drop Worked
Deputies say the women flew a consumer-grade drone over the federal prison and released hollow, plastic crow decoys that had been packed with methamphetamine, THC that included synthetic marijuana, tobacco and cellphones, according to KALB. The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office released photos of the recovered drone and the black crow toys authorities say were used as airborne delivery systems.
Investigators say Worthington and Cole admitted they had been paid roughly $40,000 to carry out the attempted drop.
Bust on the Ground and the Charges That Followed
After the drop was intercepted and the decoys recovered, deputies booked Worthington on charges that include taking contraband into a penal institution and possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to distribute, according to FOX 7 Austin. Cole was charged with taking contraband into a penal institution, possession of methamphetamine and synthetic marijuana with intent to distribute, and an outstanding warrant.
Officials have identified the site only as a federal prison in Grant Parish. They say the contraband did not make it into inmates’ hands.
Not the First Smuggling Trick at This Prison
Grant Parish Sheriff Steven McCain has described a run of smuggling attempts at the federal complex in recent months. Deputies say the arrests of Worthington and Cole represent the ninth and tenth intercepted attempts so far this year, according to KALB.
Investigators say smugglers have cycled through a range of tactics, from drones to improvised launchers and other decoy devices, as they try to stay ahead of prison security.
Legal Consequences
Both women face state felony counts for possession with intent to distribute and for introducing contraband into a correctional facility, with reporting also listing the specific charges and their hometowns, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Federal prosecutors may seek additional charges tied to smuggling contraband into a federal institution, and investigators say the probe is ongoing.
What Officials Said and What Comes Next
“I will admit that it’s pretty creative. It didn’t work,” Sheriff McCain told reporters, adding that the money circulating inside prisons makes these kinds of schemes attractive to outside organizers.
McCain told Louisiana Radio Network that investigators are working to trace who hired Worthington and Cole and whether other conspirators are still at large.
Drone Crackdowns and How to Report Suspicious Flights
Prison officials and local law enforcement have pushed for stronger tools to counter drone drops around secure facilities. Louisiana enacted a law last year that gives authorities more leeway to ground or seize rogue drones, a change officers say is already helping, per KPLC.
Residents who spot suspicious drone activity near prisons or other correctional facilities are urged to contact local law enforcement as the Grant Parish investigation continues.
