Hoax Distress Calls Traced to Annapolis Area: Coast Guard

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The U.S. Coast Guard is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a hoax caller who has made 28 false distress alerts during the last two years. All calls were determined to have originated from the Annapolis area between Loretta Heights and Admiral Drive along 450/West Street.

They involved the same male voice transmitting over VHF-FM marine radio channel 16. The hoax caller has been making the false distress calls since July 2014, and the two most recent were received at 10:27 p.m. Thursday and at 1:08 a.m. Friday stating, "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday," according to a Coast Guard statement.

The Coast Guard’s cost for the searches is estimated to be about $500,000. In addition to the financial cost, there is a significant operational impact caused by making false distress calls. False distress alerts detract from the service’s ability to respond to actual emergencies.

“A hoax call is a deadly and serious offense,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sara Wallace, chief of response at Coast Guard Sector Maryland-National Capital Region. “Calls like these not only put our crews at risk, but they put the lives of the public at risk. Our efforts to respond to what may be a hoax can delay us from getting on scene to a real emergency.”

Making a false distress call is a felony with a maximum penalty of six years imprisonment, a $10,000 civil fine, a $250,000 criminal fine and reimbursement to the Coast Guard.

To hear a recording of one of the false distress calls, click here.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service is leading the investigation and requesting information leading to the positive identification of the person involved with the hoax calls. Anyone who can help identify the caller is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Maryland-NCR Command Center at 410-576-2525 or Coast Guard Investigative Service Baltimore at CGIS-Baltimore@uscg.mil.

Release: U.S. Coast Guard

Image: The U.S. Coast Guard has released a map showing that the false distress calls have originated in the Annapolis area, between Loretta Heights and Admiral Drive along 450/West Street.