Michael Ray Acosta, a 48-year-old inmate at Pleasant Valley State Prison, received a five-year prison sentence for his role in a drug distribution scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the sentencing on Monday.
Court documents reveal that between May 23 and August 27, 2021, Acosta used an illegal cellphone to organize drone deliveries of drugs into the prison. His co-conspirators, Joshua Gonzalez, Jose Oropeza, Rosendo Ramirez, and David Ramirez Jr., operated drones to drop packages into the facility. These packages contained methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cellphones, and accessories. The contraband was then distributed within the prison.
Acosta’s conviction is part of Operation Night Drop, a multi-agency effort aimed at curbing drone-related smuggling activities over prisons. Five individuals were federally charged due to this investigation.
Jose Oropeza will be sentenced on July 28, 2025, while David Ramirez is expected to plead guilty on the same day. Joshua Gonzalez and Rosendo Ramirez are scheduled for court appearances on June 11, 2025.
The case involved investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with support from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca is handling prosecution duties.
This investigation falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative which targets high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States through coordinated efforts across multiple agencies.
For further details about OCDETF initiatives, visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
