A southern California man, Christopher Patrick Laney, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly using drones to deliver hard drugs to customers.
Laney, 34, was arrested on several charges, including distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, four counts of knowingly and willfully operating an unregistered aircraft in furtherance of a felony narcotics crime, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, Martin Estrada, US attorney for the central district of California, said in a statement.
Federal prosecutors said one of Laney’s customers eventually died of a fentanyl overdose.
According to them, Laney committed the crime between December 2022 and January 2023.
Laney is alleged to have used an unregistered drone to deliver the fentanyl and other narcotics from his home to a nearby church parking lot, where another person received the drugs and gave them to customers, including a woman who died of a fatal overdose in January 2023, federal prosecutors said.
Video captured by the drone showed Laney used it at least three other times to distribute drugs, they said.
A grand jury indictment also accuses Laney of having an AR-15 and two 9mm semiautomatic pistols at his home, federal prosecutors said.
The firearms, referred to as “ghost guns” by law enforcement officials, lacked serial numbers, which makes them difficult to trace.
If convicted of all charges, Laney would face 25 years to life in prison.