Date
California Man Indicted and Arrested on Weapons Charges
On January 14, 2020, Jonathan Vasquez was indicted in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. DOT-OIG and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) agents arrested him on January 16, 2020.
The investigation revealed that on or about April 11, 2019, Vasquez illegally operated an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) and flew it over Deuel Vocational Institute in Tracy, California, with the goal of dropping contraband, including drugs and cellular telephones, to an unknown number of inmates. The investigation also revealed that Vasquez failed to register his drone as required by Federal law.
On December 12, 2019, CDCR and DOT-OIG agents conducted a parole search and found a drone, weapon, drugs and ammunition in Vasquez’s possession.
DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with CDCR.
Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.