Illinois man gets 5 years in prison for videotaping on Six Flags Great America roller coaster.

Gurnee, Il; A man was sentenced to 5 years in prison for criminal copyright infringement after he wascaught allegedly taking a video with his wrist watch style camera on the Whizzer roller coaster at Six Flags Great America.

The man was allegedly taking a video of his ride experience in August 2025 when the ride's camera detectors alerted the ride operators and the FBI that the man's camera was active and recording. The ride was stopped near the top of the lift hill, where the man was located and arrested by armed FBI officers and taken to the Lake County Jail where he was charged with criminal copyright infringement.

The man was found guilty in September 2025 of criminal copyright infringement and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. He began serving his sentence the following Monday and will be eligible for parole and release in November 2030.