Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years, 7 Months in Prison for Flying Drone over State Prison with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

FRESNO, Calif. - Jorge Narvaez, 28, of Delano, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 12 years and seven months in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, on June 9, 2024, Narvaez piloted an Autel, EVO II Pro V3 drone over North Kern State Prison (NKSP) intending to distribute methamphetamine within the facility. Narvaez loaded the drone with two balloons packaged with methamphetamine, flew the drone over the prison, and dropped the balloons into the prison yard. NKSP officers recovered both balloons. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the two balloons contained a total of 21.4 grams of methamphetamine.

On that same date, Narvaez attempted a second drone flight over NKSP with three similarly packaged balloons of methamphetamine, but the drone crashed into a nearby field. Law enforcement recovered the drone and balloons of methamphetamine. Laboratory analysis confirmed that these three balloons contained a total of 49.6 grams of methamphetamine. Narvaez pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2025.

A forensic examination of the recovered drone revealed camera footage captured by the device. That footage showed the operator of the drone, later determined by investigators to be Narvaez.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the North Kern State Prison Investigative Services Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas E. Karp prosecuted the case.