ALEXANDRIA — Federal authorities intercepted drug smuggling operations that used packages disguised as crows to drop drugs and contraband inside a central Louisiana prison, officials announced Thursday.

The faux bird disguise was uncovered at the United States Penitentiary in Pollock, housing high security federal inmates, as part of two separate prison drone smuggling schemes prosecuted in federal court.

U.S. District Judge Jerry Edwards Jr. sentenced three defendants in Alexandria on Friday, according to U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana.

Investigators intercepted 39-year-old Melanie Jean Worthington, of Joshua, Texas, outside USP-Pollock in March after receiving reports of drone activity near the facility. Search warrants revealed drone equipment and multiple packages styled to look like crows.

The fake bird packages contained over 150 grams of methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana, THC concentrate, tobacco, cigars, SIM cards, wireless earbuds and charging cords. Worthington was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison.

In a separate December 2024 incident, 42-year-old Yoan Seirra Hernandez, of West Park, Florida, was arrested at a nearby Airbnb after deputies investigated trespassing complaints and spotted drones near USP-Pollock.

Deputies uncovered two drones, specialized equipment, artificial turf used to disguise contraband packages, firearms and nearly 3 kilograms of methamphetamine—including 776 grams at 98% purity. Hernandez received a 10-year prison sentence.

A third defendant, whose case was unrelated to prison drone operations, was sentenced during the same court proceeding.

Forty-nine-year-old Kedrick Donell Moses, of Colfax, was sentenced to over six years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl derivatives throughout the Western District of Louisiana between January and May 2025.

The cases were investigated by the FBI, the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Pollock Police Department, and USP-Pollock staff as part of federal law enforcement initiatives targeting regional drug trafficking.