Lakeland man pleads guilty to flying drone to drop prison contraband

MACON — A Lakeland resident has pleaded guilty to flying his unregistered drone and dropping contraband at Macon State Prison.

Dedrick Daesean Sirmans, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of operating an aircraft eligible for registration knowing that the aircraft is not registered to facilitate controlled substance offense before Chief U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. Sirmans faces a maximum of five years in prison to be followed by two years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7.

“Contraband in prisons is a danger to everyone inside the prison, where there is a high potential for violence and drug abuse, as well as inmates using cellphones to direct outside criminal activities,” U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said in a news release. “As the threat of drones delivering contraband continues to grow, our office — working with law enforcement — will hold all those attempting to get prohibited items to prisoners to the fullest extent of the law.”

“Using drones to distribute contraband is illegal and dangerous,” Todd Damiani, special agent-in-charge with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region, said. “We will continue to partner with law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue those who intentionally engage in illicit activities that violate federal regulations.”

According to court documents, Georgia Department of Corrections K9 handlers were conducting a patrol of the grounds around Macon State Prison at approximately 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, 2020, when they encountered Sirmans exiting the woods. Sirmans claimed he was there to meet a female he found on the dating app, Tinder. GDC officers conducted a search of the area and located two plastic bags wrapped in black duct tape with fishing line attached and a black hard-shell case containing a large drone. Inside the bundles, officers found $1,000 in cash, tobacco, marijuana, three cellphones, phone charges, rolling papers, a Bluetooth device and clothing.

Sirmans’ car was parked on the road, and officers found three pistols in the trunk.

Investigators with the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General discovered a total of 25 flight paths the drone had taken. Several of the flights took place over Macon State Prison, and one flight was over Patten Probation Detention Center in Lakeland. Investigators found that Flights 23 and 25 occurred on Sept. 14, 2020, within a couple of hours of Sirmans being found by GDC officers on the grounds around Macon State Prison. The drone was unregistered.

The case was investigated by DOT-OIG, GDC and the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach is prosecuting the case for the government.

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