Three North Carolina men plead guilty to making false distress calls
March 9th, 2010 - 11:40 pm ICT by BNO NewsRALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA (BNO NEWS) – Three North Carolina residents on Tuesday pleaded guilty to making false distress calls, prosecutors announced.
Jeremy Fisher, 25, of Holly Ridge, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false distress messages. Co-defendants William Yates, 22, of Sneads Ferry, and Steven Medina, 21, of Onslow County, each pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false distress messages.
According to the indictment, on October 18, 2008, the Coast Guard received a distress call from North Ridge. Fischer repeated “mayday” many times. Then he told the Coast Guard that his vessel was sinking and claimed to be with six more aboard and that he was attached to a buoy.
Fisher continued to ask for assistance and he started speaking with a Spanish accent. The Coast Guard responder realized it was a hoax and told them that it was unlawful to make a false distress call. Fisher responded with repeated profanities.
The investigation revealed that Fisher, Medina and Yates have been drinking before the false call. It also found out that Fisher had made at least 22 false distress calls. The three men will have to make restitution payments for a combined of $960,000 approximately.
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