Investigations

On July 13, 2021, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi indicted John Travis Ross for operating an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) without an airman’s certificate. Ross is a former inmate at the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MS-DOC). The indictment alleges that on or about August 26, 2020, Ross, aided by others, piloted an unregistered drone to deliver narcotics and other contraband to a correctional facility. Ross was on parole at the time these criminal violations occurred.

 

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with assistance from MS-DOC and the FAA Law Enforcement Assistance Program.

 

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.