# FCI McDowell drone-smuggling guilty pleas and sentencing

Other April 30, 2025 · [FCI McDowell](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcd-fci-mcdowell-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia)

What the local press ran on this, in one place. I have not written it up beyond the headlines, and the links go to the outlets themselves.

Drones make for better headlines than the old-fashioned ways contraband gets inside, but the legal consequences are just as real.

## 3 stories on file

- Jul 7, 2025 [Drone Smuggling Schemes at FCI McDowell Lead to Guilty Pleas and Sentencing](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi8gFBVV95cUxPdVNYSE9ZRGR3emJxbTRKUGZNMk5vczZCN1ZpWm55ZDUyekxtLXRzcmZteG84d3JMSmhpNjFDeU11elhZbXk1Sk5LUVFqT2g4OUFiX2FLWU5MSnF1YUNTWFpuZURGUUpVa0VXbGpxQjNRMnRUcFNqZ0dZbUdvT3dVYVJKNDAzem5IVmlmQmVYOFJCaGNJMjA1VWJLV0R4ZnlzcG5KdzJZbWcwckpwWFVKemN2MEZMRGVQOThHbFZuZmU0YWlaN1ZYLUVnZ3hsRVVVaXlUOGdpVU5CM09aT3RHS2ZDR0ZKdHBUTVBYY1dwN3dPdw?oc=5) WV News
- Apr 30, 2025 [Men plead guilty to transporting contraband into FCI McDowell using drones](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxOeXlvcTlIanVtWVgtUHotSVNCMTFwVm5sYTlRenBYRGpfQ1E2MUxPbXczTjd2NDNmeXE2MVBPaTNIU2puVXhJRG1rVkh4SzdwV2loREF1QXA5dUpiMWpMZnpUZ1M1RXR5WVQ0UHRPVVM2alZNQVJ2bHBCcnRpdFVHbmNKWkM4OEFaUVBmOFp2a2RDVGZDRURQcUY4TS1nOHh1UFRLX21XbVl0VDdUY0FJ?oc=5) WVVA
- Apr 30, 2025 [Two men admit to using drone to smuggle contraband into FCI McDowell](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxQOHBQUDJlSG83SkZHV25iN0FxdmdoMk9BeEdCVGlOWTcycVhDSnRZMUctZDloQ1pMUFpHQzlsOF9SZDRXSmNDYi1UTWVLNjdYclc0U2V5aHlSdzZ1bVQxWXd1ZTNxdnFLZktyRVdLVTBhVllpcXFsemUxZHdKcGtESVBLZ3hwLWF2RW1rVi1oWFNRTVdHcFYtazY5TFdKaW5q?oc=5) WVOW Radio

[All coverage of FCI McDowell →](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcd-fci-mcdowell-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia/articles)

[← Back to FCI McDowell](https://federalprisondude.com/resources/federal-prisons/mcd-fci-mcdowell-federal-correctional-institution-west-virginia)

Headlines are the outlets' words, not mine. Coverage is collected automatically and reviewed by hand before it lands here.

**Need help with this? Just ask.**

These pages cover the general rules. Your situation has details they don't. Email me a question. **Answers are free** , and "you don't need to pay anyone for this" is my most common answer.

[hello@federalprisondude.com](mailto:hello@federalprisondude.com?subject=Question%20about%20FCI%20McDowell%20drone-smuggling%20guilty%20pleas%20and%20sentencing%20at%20FCI%20McDowell)

I answer in the order received, usually within a couple of days. I have a day job. If your situation genuinely needs more than an email, I take a limited number of consults, so say so and we'll work it out.
