A 34-year-old Lancaster man was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 16, and charged with using a drone to deliver fentanyl and other narcotics to buyers, including one who died from an overdose last year.
Christopher Patrick Laney, also known as “Craney,” was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and four counts of knowingly operating an unregistered aircraft in furtherance of a felony narcotics crime, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
He was also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
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On Jan. 17, 2023, Laney reportedly used a drone that wasn’t registered with the Federal Aviation Administration to take fentanyl from his home to a nearby church parking lot. He delivered the fentanyl to a third party who distributed it to someone identified in the indictment as “J.K.,” who was found dead of an overdose the following day, according to the Justice Department.
Video footage recorded by the drone showed Laney used the device to deliver narcotics at least three other times in December 2022 and January 2023, the DOJ said.
In February 2023, Laney also reportedly had methamphetamine and fentanyl at his home as well as multiple firearms, including a ghost gun that resembled an AR-15-style rifle and two 9mm ghost gun pistols in his room, according to the Department of Justice.
If convicted of all charges, he would face between 25 years to life in prison.