RIVERSIDE: Couple who used flying drone to deliver drugs sentenced to prison

RIVERSIDE — A Riverside couple officials alleged had been using a flying drone to deliver LSD, heroin, methamphetamine, and other drugs from their Orangecrest home to clients at a nearby parking lot both pleaded guilty earlier this month and were sentenced to prison June 25.

After their arrest, the boyfriend and girlfriend, 39-year-old, Benjamin Baldasarre, and 31-year-old Ashley Carroll, were originally booked on suspicion of possession of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for sale, criminal conspiracy and willful child endangerment.

SEE ORIGINAL REPORT: Riverside couple using flying drone to deliver meth, LSD, other drugs arrested, face multiple charges

In a June 1 plea deal with the DA’s office, the couple pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of heroin for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and child endangerment. Baldasarre was sentenced yesterday to two years, eight months in prison and Ashley Carroll received a year in custody, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Members of Riverside PD’s Narcotics Unit began investigating the couple last December after officials received information that the pair was using a small drone to deliver drugs from their home on the 8700 block of Chesapeake Lane, north of Van Buren Boulevard and east of Orange Terrace Parkway.

During their investigation, officials conducted undercover surveillance and observed a drone carrying a small package leave the rear yard of the couple’s residence. While narcotics officers continued watching, the drone flew to a nearby parking lot where officers saw it deliver the package to waiting customers, who took possession of the delivery. Officers later confirmed the delivered package contained illegal narcotics.

On Dec. 21, Riverside PD narcotics officers and officers assigned to the department’s North Neighborhood Policing Center, along with Bomb Squad and Technical Services Unit members served a search warrant at the couple’s residence.

During the warrant service, officials found numerous used and un-capped hypodermic syringes scattered throughout the home along with un-packaged powders believed to contain fentanyl; a synthetic form of heroin used as a powerful, Opioid-based pain killer. Officers also located methamphetamine and candies they suspected were laced with LSD, as well as the drone used for the delivery of the illegal narcotics.

Because of the drugs, needles and other dangers found scattered throughout the filthy residence, detectives determined the home posed a high risk for the investigating officers and occupants of the home, and officials requested Riverside Fire personnel respond to the location and remain at the home during their investigation and search.

As the investigation continued, detectives learned Baldasarre’s 9-year-old daughter was also living at the residence and they located a “vape pen” containing marijuana inside the young girl’s bedroom, officials explained after the couple’s arrest.

Social workers from the County of Riverside’s Child Protective Services responded to assist in the investigation and took the girl into protective custody. The girl, who remains unidentified due to her age, was later released to her birth mother.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations, including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook, as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.