AUGUSTA, GA – In a shocking turn of events, two brothers have been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison for using a drone to smuggle contraband into a Georgia state prison. George Lo, 27, of Powder Springs, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Owning an Unregistered Aircraft that was Operated, Attempted to be Operated, or Allowed to be Operated by another person.
His brother, Nicholas Lo, 25, of Dallas, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to Serving or Attempting to Serve as an Airman Without an Airman’s Certificate. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. also ordered each man to serve one year of supervised release after completion of their prison terms.
The prosecution of the Lo brothers is a major blow to the growing trend of using drones to smuggle contraband into prisons. As described in court documents and testimony, George Lo was serving a state sentence for armed robbery at Telfair State Prison in Telfair County when he began conspiring with his brother and co-defendant Cheik Hassane Toure to own and operate a Storm Drone 4 kit-built unmanned aircraft without registration or licensing.
The Lo brothers discussed using the drone to deliver contraband to Telfair State Prison, and Nicholas Lo and Toure practiced flying the aircraft. George Lo planned to pay the two to fly the aircraft to deliver the contraband, which he intended to sell to other inmates.
At 1:30 a.m., on Aug. 26, 2019, Telfair County Sheriff’s deputies observed an approaching vehicle turn off its lights and park about 100 yards from Telfair State Prison. During a search of the area, Deputies encountered Nicholas Lo and Toure in a wooded area between the road and prison. The pair possessed a large duffle bag containing the drone, a controller, a video monitor, and a headset. In addition, the bag contained 14 cell phones, at least 74 grams of tobacco, a digital scale, and earbud headphones.
Federal law requires registration of unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or more, and the Storm Drone 4’s weight was in excess of that requirement. Also, federal law requires the pilot of any unmanned aircraft to hold an airman’s certificate when operating the unmanned aircraft for compensation or hire.
“Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning that violating Federal regulations related to owning and operating drones will not be tolerated,” said Todd Damiani, Special Agent-In-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General Southern Region.
“Any type of criminal activity perpetrated from behind the walls of our facilities will not be tolerated, and we are proud of our Special Agents for their diligence in stopping the introduction of dangerous contraband into Telfair State Prison,” said Georgia Corrections Commissioner Timothy C. Ward.
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- Michael Williams, Vehicle Arson, Georgia 2024 · New York
- Georgia Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Assaulting Cops with Metal Crutch · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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