It was originally reported the hoax caller was in the vicinity of Seneca Creek, Md. This release reflects the caller’s position was in the vicinity of Leonardtown, Md. The map and audio were removed as it correlates to a separate case. Audio for the Leonardtown caller is linked here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
BALTIMORE — The Coast Guard requests the public's assistance in locating a hoax caller who made 11 false distress calls June 21 and several more in July.
All false distress calls were determined to have originated from the Leonardtown area and involved the same male voice transmitting over VHF-FM marine radio channel 16.
The Coast Guard's cost for the searches is estimated to be approximately $15,000.
In addition to the financial cost, there is significant operational impact caused by making false distress calls.
"Making false distress calls limits the Coast Guard and our rescue partners' capabilities to assist those boaters who are in actual emergency situations," said Capt. Kevin Kiefer, commander of Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. "Hoax radio calls also place first responders in unnecessary danger as they work to assist the boating public."
Making a false distress call is a felony, and the maximum penalty for making a false distress call is six years in prison, a $5,000 civil fine, a $250,000 criminal fine and reimbursement to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Investigative Service is offering a reward of $2,000 for information that leads to the positive identification of the person involved with the hoax call.
Anyone with information that can help identify the caller is asked to contact Coast Guard Investigative Service Baltimore at 410-576-2696.
BOSTON — Coast Guard is searching Tuesday for a missing 59-year-old diver off the coast of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Watchstanders at the Sector Boston Command Center received notification at about 10:30 a.m. from the man's family stating he was overdue.
Station Gloucester launched a rescue crew aboard a 29-foot small boat and Air Station Cape Cod launched a search and rescue crew aboard a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.
They, along with rescue crews from state and local agencies, are conducting search patterns in an area near Children' Island.
The Coast Guard in the Northeast performs an average of 2,500 search and rescue cases each year.
