Hector Luis Gomez DeJesus and Raymond Luis Saez Aviles have pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the introduction of contraband into a federal prison, FCI McDowell, located in West Virginia. The two men, from North Carolina and Florida respectively, admitted their involvement in using a drone to transport contraband, including cell phones, tobacco, and marijuana, into the prison on February 9, 2024.
The scheme was uncovered when correctional officers detected the drone, tracing its flight path from the prison's perimeter to an inmate housing unit. Upon searching the related cell, officers discovered a broken exterior window and seized multiple prohibited items. DeJesus and Aviles, along with co-defendant Gamalier Rivera, were apprehended at the launch site where the drone controller and additional contraband were found.
Both defendants have acknowledged that they anticipated payment for their roles in the operation. They each face potential sentences of up to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing for DeJesus and Aviles is set for August 11, 2025.
Rivera, who previously pleaded guilty on March 27, 2025, awaits sentencing on July 7, 2025.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the McDowell County Sheriff's Office. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the investigative work conducted by these agencies. The hearings were overseen by Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber, with Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons handling the prosecution.
Detailed information and related court documents are accessible via the U.S. Attorney’s Office website for the Southern District of West Virginia and through the PACER system for Case No. 1:24-cr-127.