[LeArc] Fwd: ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference, unlicen sed operation

[Wayne Scace]

>Subject: ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference, unlicen
>         sed operation
>Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 16:09:19 -0400
>To: WM-Scace@wiu.edu
>CC: Subscribed ARRL Members: ;
>From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist@www.arrl.org>
>
>SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX003
>ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference, unlicensed
>operation
>
>ZCZC AX03
>QST de W1AW
>Special Bulletin 3  ARLX003
> >From ARRL Headquarters
>Newington CT  June 20, 2002
>To all radio amateurs
>
>SB SPCL ARL ARLX003
>ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference, unlicensed
>operation
>
>A Florida Citizens Band enthusiast accused of jamming Amateur Radio
>operations and transmitting without a license was convicted in
>federal court June 19 on eight misdemeanor counts. Willam Flippo of
>Jupiter was found guilty of four counts of operating without a
>license and four counts of deliberate and malicious interference.
>Federal District Court Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley noted that, while
>the charges were misdemeanors, it was important that the amateur
>airwaves be free of interference in the event of an emergency. He
>ordered that Flippo remain in custody and undergo a psychiatric
>evaluation prior to sentencing.
>
>The prosecutor in the case, Neil Karabdil, credited members of the
>Amateur Radio community with bringing Flippo to justice. The list
>included ARRL 1999 ARRL International Humanitarian Award winner Ed
>Petzolt, K1LNC, who helped the FCC gather evidence in the case; Bert
>Morschi, AG4BV; Palm Beach County Emergency Coordinator Dave
>Messinger, N4QPM; and Chuck Mulligan, N4SDW.
>
>''This is a very good day for Amateur Radio, and a very good day for
>justice,'' Petzolt said following the trial. ''Let the word go out
>that we will not tolerate this sort of thing on our frequencies, and
>you will be caught.'' Petzolt cited local amateurs and the efforts of
>the FCC, including Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley
>Hollingsworth ''and everyone else who kept the faith,'' for helping to
>bring the case to a successful conclusion.
>
>''Never give up and never surrender,'' Petzolt advised those facing
>similar malicious interference situations. ''If you do, they win.''
>
>According to Petzolt, who testified in the trial, Flippo primarily
>had targeted the Jupiter Tequesta Repeater Group for jamming and
>regularly interfered with amateur operations, especially on 10 and 2
>meters, over an approximately three-year period. Following up on the
>amateurs' complaints, personnel from the FCC's Tampa District Office
>visited the Jupiter area at least twice in 1999 and reported
>tracking the offending signals to Flippo's residence.
>
>Federal authorities arrested Flippo in July 2000. The criminal
>charges of which he now stands convicted covered violations
>allegedly committed between June 1999 and April of 2000. The
>defendant already faces a $20,000 fine levied in 1999 for
>unlicensed operation, willful and malicious interference to Amateur
>Radio communications, and failure to let the FCC inspect his radio
>equipment.
>
>Hurley said he was worried that Flippo might not return to court for
>his sentencing hearing and ordered him returned to jail. Flippo
>reportedly hung his head after the jury returned a guilty verdict on
>the second count. He had no comment for a reporter as he was led
>back to jail.
>
>Sentencing could take place in about a month. According to the FCC,
>Flippo faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison--one year on
>each count. He also faces up to $80,000 in fines.
>NNNN
>/EX

Respectfully and Sincerely Yours,


Wayne M. Scace

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