FAKE COAST GUARD CALLS WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH

[bite me 05]

I hope they catch them and string them up. There is no sense in it!!!

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

HEY LOU I HOPE THEY TAKE THE DAMN MICROPHONE CORD AND BEAT EM WITH THE MIC, HELL MAYBE IT'S A N OLD ICOM M-80 MIC THAT WILL TEACH THE JACK ASS A LESSON.

[PurpleGold]

This guy must be a real jackass. I can't see how anyone could think this is funny or some kind of joke. I hope they catch him and make an example out of him.

[Ravens16]

When they get him he will pay
They threw the book at this guy
Check out the fines, sweet!!
Stupid is as stupid does!


Press Release Date: Oct. 31, 2006

Contact: Dana Warr
(305) 415-6683


MAN SENTENCED TO PAY RESTITUTION, SERVE JAIL TIME FOR FALSE DISTRESS CALL
MIAMI - Robert J. Moran, 45, of Boynton Beach, Fla., was sentenced in Federal Court yesterday to serve 30 months in jail and pay a criminal fine of $347,014.92 for making a false distress call to the Coast Guard on June 11, 2006.

According to an indictment and statements made in court, Moran knowingly and willfully made a series of broadcasts to the Coast Guard Sector Miami Command Center claiming his thirty-three foot vessel, Blue Sheep, was taking on water and sinking near Boynton Beach Inlet. Moran claimed during his broadcast that nine people were on board the vessel, including four children and his injured wife.

A Coast Guard's search for the vessel and victims ensued for nearly two full days with help from private citizens, commercial vessels, Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office units and vessels and aircrafts from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More than 1,000 square miles between Boynton Beach Inlet and Port St. Lucie Inlet, Fla., were covered during the search and neither the victims nor the vessel were ever located.

In addition to searching for Moran's suspected distressed vessel, the Coast Guard was responding to unsettling weather conditions associated with the impending approach of Tropical Storm Alberto.

The Honorable Joan A. Lenard, United States District Court Judge, determined that Moran's sentence should be enhanced because his conduct involved the reckless risk of death or serious bodily injury. Evidence presented at the hearing by a Coast Guard expert established that during the search effort, Coast Guard aircraft and vessels had to be shifted into overlapping search areas because of thunderstorm activity off Boynton Beach, which materially increased the risk to the many men and women of the Coast Guard and the partner agencies involved in the rescue operation. The expert also made clear that the Coast Guard does not treat any potential rescue mission as "routine," and recognizes that given the uncertainties of weather and other factors, there is some risk in every response. Despite best efforts, through training and exercises, Coast Guard personnel have lost their lives on rescue missions.

"Today's sentence marks the culmination of hard work by Coast Guard response personnel, investigators, the media and the U.S. Attorney's Office," said Capt. James A. Watson, chief of staff of the Seventh Coast Guard District. "The professional and meticulous casework, the broadcast of the audio clip of the hoax call by the media, and the prosecution of the case by the U.S. Attorney's office all contributed to the administration of justice we have seen today. The sentence sends a strong message -- issuing a false distress call is a crime and we will aggressively prosecute these cases to hold perpetrators responsible for their reckless actions