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Drone Case Ongoing

January 15th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

 A Maryland State Police investigator says a man charged with plotting to fly contraband into a maximum-security state prison said he'd made five or six such drops in the months before his arrest.

Sgt. Andrew Farrell testified Friday at Thaddeus Shortz' trial in Cumberland.

Farrell interviewed Shortz after he was arrested in August outside the Western Correctional Institution.

Police say they found a drone and packages of illegal drugs, tobacco and pornographic videos in Shortz' pickup truck.

Farrell says Shortz boasted he had previously flown cellphones and other contraband into the prison, earning enough to pay $20,000 toward a new truck.

Defense attorney Robin Ficker asked Farrell why he believed Shortz.

Farrell said he doesn't know why someone would falsely claim to have committed crimes.

Two co-defendants are awaiting trial.

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