Man Who Flew Drone in Restricted South Florida Air Space During Super Bowl Week Charged: LEO Swarms the Super Bowl
Man Who Flew Drone in Restricted South Florida Air Space During Super Bowl Week Charged Federally DOJ
MIAMI – Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, announced today that Yorgan Arnaldo Ramos Teran (Ramos Teran), 46, of Weston, Florida, is charged with violating the temporary flight restrictions set up to protect the public during Super Bowl LIV and the week leading up to the game. Super Bowl LIV takes place on February 2, 2020, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the Southern District of Florida, on the night of January 29, 2020, Ramos Teran illegally flew a drone in the temporarily restricted air space of Ocean Drive and 8thStreet in Miami Beach, without the required authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The complaint charges Ramos Teran with violating 49 U.S.C. § 46307, which prohibits knowingly and willfully violating national defense airspace; specifically, with knowingly and willfully flying a drone in an area with a temporary flight restriction imposed by the FAA. If convicted, Ramon Teran faces up to one year in federal prison. Ramos Teran is scheduled for an initial appearance before a federal magistrate judge at 2:00 p.m. today.
A temporary flight restriction is a regulation that temporarily restricts certain aircraft (including drones) from operating within a defined area in order to protect people or property in the air or on the ground. As part of a comprehensive federal, state, and local law enforcement plan to protect the public and secure the events leading up to and including Super Bowl LIV, the FAA established temporary flight restrictions on drone and other aircraft flights in areas of Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, and around the Hard Rock Stadium. Restrictions on drone and other aircraft flights in South Florida remain in effect through February 2, 2020.
For more information on Super Bowl LIV-related “No Drone Zones” and other temporary flight restrictions, visit superbowl.faa.gov.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of the FBI, FAA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, and Miami Beach Police Department.
A criminal complaint is an accusation and defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The Department of Homeland Security and nearly every one of the component agencies are in Miami working with our Federal, State, and local partners to ensure a safe and secure Super Bowl week,” said Acting Secretary Wolf. “While there are no specific, credible threats against the Super Bowl, an event of this size and profile creates a potential target for violent actors, cyber-crimes, counterfeit marketers, and even human trafficking. The American people can be sure that DHS and our partners are prepared on all fronts.”
U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Brian Swain of the Miami Field Office serves as the Federal Security Coordinator for the Super Bowl, leading the department-wide effort.
Through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), DHS personnel are on the ground in Miami, working to combat criminal organizations’ attempts to exploit the event. Human trafficking can surge around such large events, and DHS is supporting state and local law enforcement in both prevention and enforcement efforts. DHS formally recognized the fight against human trafficking and child sexual exploitation as a Departmental priority in a first-of-its-kind strategy, released on January 15. As part of the Blue Campaign, DHS provides the public with key indicators to recognize signs of human trafficking.
The Super Bowl also results in an increase in the sale of counterfeit goods such as tickets, hats, and jerseys. Purchasing counterfeit goods can not only ruin the Super Bowl fan experience, but it can also jeopardize the health and safety of consumers, burden the U.S. economy, and ultimately fund criminal organizations.
In addition to the above mentioned activity, DHS and its component agencies are conducting several seen and unseen activities, including but not limited to:
DHS thanks all of its partners in Miami and across the country in helping to secure Super Bowl LIV. Together, we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safest experience for players and fans alike throughout the weekend.
Planning for security is already underway for the 2021 Super Bowl in Tampa. DHS