FLORIDA — A former Florida inmate has been arrested for allegedly using drones to traffic narcotics into Correctional facilities.
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) announced the arrest of former Florida inmate Mario Brian Crawford, 33, on multiple charges, including the introduction of contraband, operation of an unmanned aircraft over a critical infrastructure facility, trafficking in methamphetamine, and possession of cocaine.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reportedly arrested Crawford on an Office of the Inspector General (OIG) warrant from Escambia County. A search of Crawford’s rental vehicle is alleged to have produced evidence supporting his ongoing criminal activity, including a drone and contraband packaging materials, said the FDC.
According to the FDC, Crawford is among others suspected of being involved in a larger-scale operation of contraband introduction into multiple Florida correctional institutions using drones.
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“Contraband threatens officers and inmates alike, and when it comes to cell phones, the threat often extends outside the prison gate,” said FDC Secretary Ricky Dixon.
“In this instance, an excellent collaborative investigation among Department and local agencies led to multiple charges and prevented contraband from entering into more correctional institutions.”
According to the FDC, contraband cell phones circumvent FDC’s security practices and provide an avenue for illegal drug use, extortion, and human trafficking. Offering inmates a route for unmonitored communications jeopardizes the safety of the public, staff, and inmates, said the FDC.
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Since July 2012, the FDC reports the seizure of more than 76,400 cell phones.
Currently, FDC said it is working with federal, state, and local partners to reverse the federal law prohibiting cell phone jamming technology, a frequency used to render cell phones unusable within the compounds of an institution.
Crawford was released from FDC custody in 2021 after serving a seven-year sentence for trafficking in stolen property and grand theft and reportedly is currently under supervision for a case in Georgia.
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