Investigations

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Georgia Individual Sentenced After Guilty Plea in Connection With Scheme To Use a UAS To Deliver Contraband to a Prison

On August 19, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia sentenced Cheikh Hassane Toure to 12 months of incarceration, 12 months of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. On April 28, Toure pleaded guilty to attempting to serve as an airman of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) without obtaining an airman's certificate. In August 2019, Toure and another defendant attempted to use a UAS to deliver contraband—including 14 cellular telephones—to George Lo, an inmate at Telfair State Prison in Georgia. In a signed plea agreement, Toure admitted to operating the UAS without the required FAA airman's certificate.

DOT-OIG is conducting this investigation with the Georgia Department of Corrections-Office of Professional Standards and with assistance from FAA's Law Enforcement Assistance Program.