A Jacksonville man is among 12 people charged in what federal prosecutors call the largest drone-based contraband smuggling operation ever prosecuted in the United States, according to an indictment unsealed June 24.
James Phillips, 51, of Jacksonville, is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide contraband in prison. That charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison.
Prosecutors allege the operation relied on coordination between people outside prison walls and inmates on the inside — including the use of contraband cell phones to schedule drone drops so packages could be quickly retrieved.
“The most sophisticated and sprawling criminal enterprise using drones to introduce contraband into the federal prison system ever charged by the Department of Justice,” U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes said at a press conference Wednesday.
The alleged scheme
The 17-count federal indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, alleges the conspiracy began in September 2023 and continued through May 2026.Investigators say 12 defendants used six drones to drop contraband at least 38 times into 10 federal prisons across eight states.
Court documents say the operation was based out of a former daycare center in Macon, Georgia, that the defendants referred to as “The Lab.”Prosecutors allege the ringleader was Ira Christopher Jackson, 42, of Macon — also known as “Chris,” “CJ,” “Action” and “Action Jackson” — and that he used the property to store drones and coordinate drops.
The contraband allegedly delivered during the conspiracy included methamphetamine, marijuana, K-2, suboxone, cell phones, tobacco and saw blades described in the indictment as being “designed and intended to be used as weapons and to facilitate escape.”
“And this contraband was intended for the prison population, threatening the safety of all,” Keyes said.
How federal agents tracked the drones
According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Prisons had a drone detection system that flagged drones flying near prison properties. The system tracked information including the drone’s make, model and identification number, along with launch locations, flight paths and altitudes.
Five of the six drones used in the operation were allegedly activated at or near “The Lab” in the days before prison drops, court documents say.
Jacksonville connection
Prosecutors allege Phillips is a former inmate at Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) Jesup in Georgia, FCI Talladega in Alabama, and other Bureau of Prisons facilities. They say he used a contraband cell phone to help schedule drone drops of illegal items into those prisons.
Who is charged
Along with Phillips, the indictment names 11 other defendants, most based in Macon:
- Ira Christopher Jackson, 42, Macon — conspiracy leader facing a maximum of life in prison
- Kenna Middleton, 45, Macon — accused of flying drones and communicating with inmates; facing life in prison
- Leviticus Blash, 42, Macon — accused of traveling to prisons to assist with drone flights; facing life in prison
- Chrystal Dunn, 37, Macon and Greenville, South Carolina — accused of providing transportation and acting as a lookout; facing life in prison
- Jeff Richardson, 23, Macon and East Point, Georgia — accused of flying drones; facing life in prison
- Tysean Richardson, 23, Macon and East Point, Georgia — accused of flying drones; facing life in prison
- Glenn Middleton, 70, Macon — accused of storing contraband at his home; facing a maximum of 20 years
- Aaron Hubbard, 37, BOP inmate — charged with conspiracy to provide contraband; facing a maximum of 30 years
- Xavier Maxwell, 30, Macon — accused of preparing and packaging contraband; facing a maximum of 20 years
- Lametheus Douglas, 47, BOP inmate — charged with conspiracy to provide contraband; facing a maximum of five years
- Robert Lee Whisby Jr., 51, BOP inmate — charged with conspiracy to provide contraband; facing a maximum of five years
Prisons targeted in the operation
The 10 federal prisons allegedly targeted span eight states:
- FCI Atlanta (Georgia)
- FCI Beckley (Beaver, West Virginia)
- FCI Jesup (Georgia)
- Federal Medical Center Lexington (Kentucky)
- FCI Manchester (Kentucky)
- FCI Memphis (Tennessee)
- Federal Correctional Complex Petersburg (Hopewell, Virginia)
- FCI Pollock (Louisiana)
- FCI Talladega (Alabama)
- FCI Yazoo City (Mississippi)
All 12 defendants are in federal custody. Initial appearances are scheduled in U.S. Magistrate Court in the Middle District of Georgia.