JACKSONVILLE -- A Holly Ridge man has agreed to pay nearly a quarter of a million dollars in restitution for false distress calls he made to the Coast Guard.
Jeremy C. Fisher, 25, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to make false distress messages. As part of his plea agreement, Fisher agreed to pay $234,111 restitution to the Coast Guard for all search and rescue costs associated with the hoax calls.
William H. Yates, 22, of Sneads Ferry and Steven G. Medina, 21, of Onslow County, each pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting false distress messages. Medina agreed to pay $233.48, and Yates agreed to pay $506.80 in restitution, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding.
The three had been drinking Oct. 18, 2008, when they sent out a distress call.
According to the release, Fisher said "Mayday. Mayday." When the Coast Guard asked about the incident, Fisher reported that he and six people were aboard a vessel taking on water and asked for help. He repeated his mayday and then started speaking in a Spanish accent. The Coast Guard responder realized it was a hoax and warned Fisher that what he was doing was illegal. Fisher responded with profanities, according to the release.
According to investigators, Fisher and Yates had also made distress calls in October 2007 and that Fisher had made at least 22 false calls.
Fisher faces up to five years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Yates and Medina each face up to six years in prison followed by up to two years' supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
