Gamalier Rivera, a 33-year-old from Allentown, Pennsylvania, has pled guilty to aiding and abetting the introduction of contraband into a federal prison. The plea was made in relation to an incident on February 9, 2024, at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell, located in West Virginia.
According to court documents, a drone was detected flying over the facility, leading correctional officers to discover a broken exterior window, numerous cell phones, tobacco, and marijuana inside a cell. The drone's flight path was traced to its launch site, where Rivera and co-defendants Hector Luis Gomez DeJesus and Raymond Luis Saez Aviles were apprehended.
The seized items included the drone itself, its remote controller, and the contraband found in the cell. Rivera admitted his role in using the drone alongside his co-defendants to transport the contraband into the prison. He acknowledged expecting payment for his involvement in the operation.
Rivera's sentencing is set for July 7, 2025, with potential penalties including up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
In a related case, a federal grand jury indicted Rivera, DeJesus, and Aviles, alongside Arturo Joel Gallegos, Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno, and Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez, all from Chicago, Illinois. These additional charges allege they attempted to provide contraband to inmates. The cases against the remaining defendants are ongoing, and all accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston remarked, “Today’s guilty plea is the result of the vigilance and dedication of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the excellent coordination and teamwork between BOP, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.”
The hearing was overseen by Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber, with Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuting the case.