ATLANTA – A Mexican national faces federal charges after authorities caught him flying an unauthorized drone over Centennial Olympic Park during the FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta, according to a federal criminal complaint. 

Federal agents took 37-year-old Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez into custody on Friday after discovering he was unlawfully present in the United States following two prior deportations. 

What we know:

Federal agents standing near Centennial Olympic Park on Friday spotted Rojas-Martinez operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone, according to the criminal complaint. Rojas-Martinez was standing in a nearby parking area recording video of the FIFA Fan Festival when agents approached him and requested his identification. 

A review of his driver’s license confirmed his identity and led agents to discover his status as a repeat deportee who also holds a prior conviction for cocaine distribution, federal officials said. Rojas-Martinez was formally charged on Monday with operating a drone in a temporary flight restricted zone and illegal reentry by a removed alien. 

What we don’t know:

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact type of drone Rojas-Martinez was operating or what he planned to do with the recorded video footage. It remains unclear how long he had been back in the country following his second deportation or where he obtained the aircraft. 

Authorities have not disclosed whether Rojas-Martinez has retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. A trial date has not been set, and the government maintains the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. 

By the numbers:

The FBI Atlanta Counter UAV Task Force has seized 21 drones, including the aircraft used by Rojas-Martinez, as part of ongoing airspace protection measures around World Cup events. The enforcement action is tied to Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations and violent crime. 

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg and Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham of FBI Atlanta noted that Ground Intercept Teams will continue monitoring restricted areas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dash A. Cooper is prosecuting the case, which is being jointly investigated by the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

As Atlanta welcomes the world this summer, a coalition of community organizations is working to make sure some of the city’s fathers are home in time for Father’s Day.

On Tuesday, June 16, the Emerald United Foundation, in partnership with Atlanta City Councilmembers Antonio Lewis and Byron Amos, will lead the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative — a citywide effort to bond out low-level, nonviolent fathers currently detained at Fulton County Jail. The action begins at 4 p.m. at the jail, located at 901 Rice Street in northwest Atlanta.

Nearly 77% of the individuals currently held in Fulton County Jail have not been convicted of a crime. Many remain incarcerated pretrial — separated from their children and households for weeks or months at a time — not because they pose a danger, but because they cannot afford to post bond.

“A family is not whole without its father,” said Brittany Brewster, founder and chair of the Emerald United Foundation. “Thousands of fathers remain detained for minor, nonviolent offenses — not because they are dangerous, but because they cannot afford to come home. As Atlanta welcomes the world this summer, we have a chance to show what this city’s values truly are. That starts with bringing fathers home.”

Building on the Mother’s Day Freedom Initiative

The June 16 effort builds on the momentum of EUF’s inaugural Mother’s Day Freedom Initiative, held May 7, which freed nonviolent mothers from Fulton County Jail and connected them to long-term wraparound support.

This time, coalition partner A Seat at the Table is making a landmark contribution, bonding out 11 fathers in coordination with EUF and the broader coalition — a demonstration, organizers say, of what becomes possible when community partners move together.

The timing carries added weight. The initiative unfolds as FIFA World Cup activities are underway at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Juneteenth observances approach — a moment of unprecedented national and global attention on Atlanta.

More Than a Bailout

Organizers stress that the initiative is designed not only to secure release, but to support full restoration, with onsite services available to participating fathers the moment they walk free.

Those services include emergency healthcare and transportation through Healthcare & Emergency Solutions; housing support through PAD Atlanta; additional housing and realty resources through Head of Household Realty; workforce placement through First Step Staffing; opioid recovery and treatment referrals through Men and Women of Excellence; mental health and therapeutic care through Mindful Discovery Therapeutic Solutions; violence prevention through the Emory Hillandale Hospital Violence Prevention Program; family reunification and reentry support through Motherhood Behind Bars; bonding services through AAA Assured Bonding Co.; and additional community support through A Seat at the Table, 11th and Co., and Mothers Against Gang Violence.

“The household is only as strong as the man that leads it. How can he lead behind bars?” Brewster said. “Every father returned home is a household made whole again — and that is what restoration looks like.”

Pain Transformed into Purpose

Brewster founded the Emerald United Foundation following the personal loss of her mother and brother. Built on the belief that pain can be transformed into purpose, the Atlanta-based nonprofit is dedicated to empowering youth, strengthening families, and restoring hope in underserved communities through strategic partnerships, direct services, and community-led programming.

A community engagement and economic development professional with more than a decade of experience, Brewster currently serves as Community Engagement Manager at Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., and has held leadership roles within three offices of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office. Over the course of her career, she has raised more than $1.5 million in funding and launched citywide initiatives in partnership with organizations including Amazon, Coca-Cola, and UNCF.

How to Get Involved

Community members interested in supporting or participating in the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative are encouraged to register at EmeraldUnited.org or by contacting [email protected]. Space is limited, and confirmed participants will receive additional event details upon registration.

What: Father’s Day Freedom Initiative
When: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 — 4 p.m.
Where: Fulton County Jail, 901 Rice Street, Atlanta

The Atlanta Voice is a media partner of the Father’s Day Freedom Initiative.

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2. There’s some top culinary talent in the kitchen.

What makes the team at Zephyr unique is that, like the railways that intersect Atlanta, many of the powerhouses that have made this newcomer their hub have done so by changing tracks.

Taking a unique tack, director of food and beverage, Omari Buncum (formerly of The Forth, home of Elektra and Il Premio) says, “We weren’t looking at titles — we were looking for strong leaders.”

It was this philosophy that led him to invite Carelys Vazquez to take the reins as the founding executive chef for all of the hotel’s outlets, including Zephyr — a massive and unusual pivot for an accomplished pastry chef with a history of award-winning programs in her specialty. With her pledge to build and inspire teams, and create an environment where “chefs can feel empowered,” it became clear that she was the right conductor to get growth on track, laying the foundation for current executive chef Christian Quiñones to take over.

A Puerto Rico native who completed his culinary studies in Florida and the Basque Culinary Center in San Sebastian, Spain, Quiñones was recruited similarly for the people-first culture he brings to his projects. And serving as chef de cuisine is Jonathan Mailo, in addition to executive pastry chef Stephen Huang, most recently of the lauded Atlas Restaurant at The St. Regis Atlanta hotel in Buckhead.

Last but not least is nationally acclaimed mixologist Thandi Walton, who is both curating the beverage program in addition to pivoting to a new role as general manager here.