United States of America v. Gustavo Mendoza-Alvarez and Osvaldo Lopez-Sanchez

An investigation into Gustavo Mendoza-Alvarez, 25, and Osvaldo Lopez-Sanchez, 28, both of Mexico, smuggling drugs into a federal prison using drones, began on June 14, 2026, when the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office received reports of a drone flying near the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock, Louisiana (FCC-Pollock). Detectives responding to the area found recent footprints and observed a vehicle with Texas license plates attempting to avoid law enforcement. During the pursuit, the fleeing vehicle—driven by Lopez-Sanchez with Mendoza-Alvarez as the passenger—struck a marked Grant Parish patrol vehicle and later collided head-on with a Ford F-350. Both men were taken into custody, and a search of their phones revealed images of a drone, THC wax, and what appeared to be methamphetamine.

Investigators later executed a search warrant at a nearby hotel where they located approximately 446 grams of methamphetamine, 114 grams of marijuana, THC vapes, 21 cell phones, a wallet containing Mendoza-Alvarez’s Mexican voter ID, assorted ammunition, spare drone propellers, and a drone operator harness.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.