Michael Ray Acosta, Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, California 2021

California Inmate Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Scheme by Drone

Michael Ray Acosta, 48, an inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison in California, was sentenced on Monday to five years in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana inside of the prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.

According to court documents, from May 23 to August 27, 2021, Acosta used a contraband cellphone to coordinate multiple drone deliveries of contraband into Pleasant Valley State Prison. Acosta’s co-conspirators, including Joshua Gonzalez, Jose Oropeza, Rosendo Ramirez, and David Ramirez Jr., flew drones over the prison and dropped packages into the prison. Acosta and his associates would then recover the contraband for further distribution throughout the prison population.

The packages that Acosta helped to smuggle into the prison included methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and various other items. Acosta was one of five people charged federally as a result of Operation Night Drop, a multi-agency investigation that sought to prevent a rising number of drone incursions over prison facilities.

As part of the investigation, authorities identified a disturbing trend of contraband being smuggled into prisons using drones. The operation aimed to crack down on this illicit activity and ensure the safety of both inmates and correctional officers.

Acosta is just one of several individuals involved in the scheme. His co-conspirators, including Jose Oropeza, David Ramirez, Joshua Gonzalez, and Rosendo Ramirez, are also facing charges. Jose Oropeza is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2025, while David Ramirez is scheduled to plead guilty on the same day. Joshua Gonzalez and Rosendo Ramirez are next scheduled to appear in court on June 11, 2025.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the Federal Aviation Administration, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is prosecuting the case, which was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is designed to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

For more information about the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.

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