An Atlantic City man was indicted last week in the use of a drone to drop dye in several area pools.
Anthony Spina, 31, faces third-degree charges of conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and criminal mischief more than a year after his brother was charged in the case.
The Spinas are accused of using the drones at various times between June 1 and Sept. 1, 2023, to drop Sea Dye, a material used by sea rescue services that turns water a greenish yellow.
Police got a call from an Absecon resident Aug. 13, 2023, reporting suspicious activity with a drone at their Upland Avenue home.
The homeowner said a substance dropped from the drone turned their pool water "an alarming shade of green," police said.
Similar reports then came from other places, including the Quality Inn in Galloway Township.
Patrick Spina IV was charged that September.
Anthony Spina is now accused of dropping the dye packs into a pool at an Atlantic City condominium complex multiple times from Aug 2 to Aug. 15, 2023.
Using tracking software, the drone flights were attributed to the Spinas, resulting in at least one drone and multiple digital devices being seized, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
The evidence allegedly implicated Spina, leading to his arrest. He was charged on a summons.
His brother is looking to enter into pretrial intervention, which allows those with no criminal record to avoid prosecution by completing certain program requirements.
