[Qcwa] Fw: ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference, unlicensed operation

[de Rick K5RIC]

If my memory serves, this Flippo had a ham ticket some years back, but lost
it due to simular problems.  This Flippo has been very controverial and
interfered with ham operations for years before getting his ham ticket.
Also he may have run an illeagle broadcast station in the past.  

rick k5ric


At 06:20 PM 6/20/02 -0500, Rick Gryder   K9WED  ARLHS #365 wrote:
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "W1AW Mailing List" <w1aw-list-request@p1k.arrl.org>
>To: <k9wed@qsl.net>
>Cc: <W1AW List:>; <W1AW.List:>; <W1AW.List:>; <@mailer.remote.arrl.org>
>Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 3:09 PM
>Subject: ARLX003 Florida Man convicted of deliberate interference,
>unlicensed operation
>
>
>> 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
>
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