A Florida man is now facing federal charges after prosecutors say he used drones to smuggle fentanyl and contraband cellphones into prison facilities.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office (via the local NBC affiliate, News Channel 8), 45-year-old James Key III of Eustis, Florida, has been indicted for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Officials allege the scheme stretched from December 16, 2024, through August 17, 2025, and involved multiple correctional facilities in California, Florida, and South Carolina.
Court filings describe an elaborate setup where Key worked with incarcerated individuals to coordinate deliveries.
Prosecutors say the method involved applying fentanyl onto sheets of paper, bundling those sheets, and then camouflaging the packages with synthetic grass. The items were then transported into restricted areas using drones, allowing the contraband to bypass traditional security measures.
Authorities specifically cited deliveries to the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater, California, though other prisons were also targeted.
Investigators say the combination of fentanyl-laced paper and illegal cellphones posed a dual threat inside the facilities—fueling the spread of a deadly drug while also enabling inmates to coordinate further criminal activity.
If convicted, Key faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, along with a fine of up to $1 million.
This isn’t the first time a Florida man has made headlines for using drones in drug-related schemes.
Late last month, deputies in Hillsborough County arrested 49-year-old Jason Brooks after he allegedly flew a drone loaded with methamphetamine and fentanyl into a home in Lutz, about 15 miles north of Tampa. According to investigators, Brooks even knocked on a homeowner’s door asking to retrieve his “lost drone,” which deputies later recovered. Strapped to it were multiple bags of meth and fentanyl, some labeled with names.
Both cases underscore the growing concern over how drones are being used to traffic narcotics. Officials warn the trend is becoming more frequent, posing risks not only on the streets but also behind prison walls.