Gamalier Rivera, a 33-year-old resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, has pleaded guilty for his involvement in a scheme to introduce contraband into Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) McDowell using a drone. The plea was entered in Charleston, West Virginia.
Court records reveal that on February 9, 2024, a drone was detected by correctional officers at FCI McDowell, flying over the prison from the secured perimeter to a cell in one of the housing units. Upon inspecting the cell, officers discovered a broken window, multiple cell phones, tobacco products, and marijuana.
The investigation led officers to trace the drone's origins back to its launch site, where Rivera and his accomplices Hector Luis Gomez DeJesus and Raymond Luis Saez Aviles were apprehended. Officers seized the drone, its remote controller, and contraband that matched the items discovered in the cell.
Rivera confessed to helping transport the contraband, which included marijuana, tobacco, and cell phones, into the prison. He acknowledged that he was to be compensated for his role in the operation.
Rivera's sentencing is set for July 7, 2025, where he faces the possibility of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
A federal grand jury has indicted Rivera along with DeJesus, of Sanford, North Carolina; Aviles, of Poinciana, Florida; and in a separate case, Arturo Joel Gallegos, Miguel Angel Aleman-Piceno, and Francisco Alejandro Gonzalez, all from Chicago, Illinois. Charges allege their involvement in providing contraband to inmates at FCI McDowell in February 2024. The indictment of remaining defendants is still pending.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston commented on the case stating, “Today’s guilty plea is the result of the vigilance and dedication of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the excellent coordination and teamwork between BOP, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office.”
The hearing was overseen by Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber, with Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuting the case.
Further information and related court documents can be accessed via the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia or by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-127 on PACER.
