L.A. County man accused of delivering fentanyl via drone, leading to fatal overdose

Investigators arrested an Antelope Valley man Wednesday on suspicion of using a drone to deliver fentanyl and other drugs, leading to the overdose death of a woman in Lancaster, authorities said.

Christopher Patrick Laney, 34, of Lancaster, also known as "Crany," faces federal charges including one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, four counts of knowingly and willfully operating an unregistered aircraft in furtherance of a felony narcotics crime, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

He's accused of using a drone to deliver fentanyl and other drugs on four separate occasions between December of 2022 and February of 2023, DOJ spokesman Ciaran McEvoy said in a written statement. One of those deliveries resulted in death.

"Laney on Jan. 17, 2023, used an unmanned aircraft system, commonly referred to as a 'drone' — which had not been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration — to transport fentanyl from his house to a nearby church parking lot," according to McEvoy.

The drugs were were distributed to the victim through a third party, officials said. The buyer, a woman identified in court documents as "J.K.," was found dead from an overdose of the synthetic opioid the next day.

Investigators were able to use video recorded by the drone itself as evidence of the illicit deliveries, prosecutors said.

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Fentanyl and methamphetamine were seized from Laney's home in February of 2023, when he was arrested by narcotics detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, according to federal officials and Los Angeles County booking records.

Deputies also seized an AR-15 style rifle and two 9mm handguns, which were both described as un-serialized "ghost guns," McEvoy said.

The indictment was returned in September but remained under seal until Wednesday, according to McEvoy.

If convicted as charged, Laney could face a minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life behind bars.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Drone delivery of fentanyl linked to fatal overdose in L.A. County