A Lancaster man who turned a drone into a fentanyl delivery system has been sentenced to 14 years and six months in federal prison, after prosecutors said one of his airborne drops led to a woman's fatal overdose in January 2023. Christopher Laney, 37, pleaded guilty in September to federal charges that included distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to CBS Los Angeles, Laney admitted in his plea agreement that in January 2023 he used an unregistered drone to ferry about $80 worth of fentanyl from his Antelope Valley home to a nearby church parking lot. Court papers state that the buyer then passed the drugs to a woman identified only as "J.K.," who was found dead the following day.
Drone footage and evidence
Prosecutors say the same unmanned aircraft recorded video of several drug drops in December 2022 and January 2023, giving investigators a front-row view of the handoffs. The U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California reported that agents recovered the drone during a search of Laney's residence, along with multiple firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle without a serial number and two 9mm "ghost-gun" pistols.
Plea agreement and forfeiture
Court filings obtained by Patch show that Laney's plea deal included an agreement not to seek a sentence below 168 months, along with a forfeiture list that covers the DJI FPV drone, two cellphones, $1,063 in cash and digital scales. Earlier charging documents unsealed in October 2024 show he was initially indicted on nine counts, including a distribution resulting in death charge, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.
Law enforcement response
The case has become another example of why investigators are increasingly worried about drones being used to move narcotics without in-person contact. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the investigation drew in multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Sentence and legal note
Laney's plea deal removed the original death-related count from the case and set the stage for the 14-year, six-month sentence imposed Monday. He will also have to forfeit the items listed in the agreement and will be placed on supervised release after leaving prison. Prosecutors had previously warned that a conviction on all of the initial counts could have triggered a mandatory minimum of 25 years, and the plea limited his exposure to the lesser charges, according to Patch.
