March 22, 2026 – FRESNO, CA – 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 October 20, 2025…