43-Year-Old Man Could Receive Up to Three Years in the Slammer

A 43-year-old Baltimore man is up against felony charges for flying his unregistered drone over the Ravens vs Steelers playoff game on January 11. Busting the stadium’s flight restriction will land the drone’s pilot up to three years in federal prison. 

Authorities noticed an unapproved and unidentified drone more than 400 feet above the stadium during the game’s third quarter. It was seen as a security threat, leading officials to put the game on hold until safety was assured. After capturing several photographs from above, the drone exited the area and the game was able to resume.

FBI Special Agents worked with Maryland State Police to track the drone back to 43-year-old Alexis Perez Suarez. Suarez told officials that while he had purchased the drone for recreational purposes, he had also been using it for his job. However, Suarez did not possess a Remote Pilot Certificate, and the drone was never registered.

"If you are going to fly a drone, you are responsible for learning all the laws and requirements to responsibly operate it,” stated Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno. “Failing to do so will not excuse you from the consequences of breaking the law.”

Suarez broke another major aviation law by flying through a temporary flight restriction (TFR) without approval. The FAA had placed a TFR over a three-mile zone surrounding the stadium, effective from an hour before to an hour after the Ravens game.

Together, these three moves could land Suarez some serious jail time. He is facing up to “three years in federal prison for knowingly operating an unregistered UAS and for knowingly serving as an airman without an airman’s certificate” as well as “a maximum of one year in federal prison for willfully violating United States National Defense Airspace,” a press release stated.

FMI: https://tfr.faa.gov