Two Cincinnati men have pleaded guilty to illegally flying drones over professional sporting events, the Department of Justice says.Two men, 24-year-old Dailon Dabney and 38-year-old Travis Lenhoff, were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022 for separate incidents involving Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds events.Officials say Dabney allegedly flew his drone into the stadium and "hovered over the players and portions of the stadium crowd," during the Jan. 15, 2022 Bengals game against the Raiders.Authorities say Dabney recorded his drone flight and posted the video to social media sites.DOJ alleges Lenhoff flew a drone into the restricted flight area of Great American Ballpark during the Opening Day festivities for the Reds on April 12, 2022.Both pleaded guilty Tuesday before a judge to one count of violating a temporary flight restriction, a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.“It is not worth risking federal criminal charges to illegally fly a drone over events like Reds and Bengals games. Even if there is no intent to harm, this conduct poses a direct risk to the players and the individuals in the stands,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said in a statement. “As we kickoff FC Cincinnati and Reds seasons this month, and look to summer concert season, we ask the public to refrain from using drones illegally over events.”Officials say any drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Dabney’s and Lenhoff’s drones were not registered with the FAA, and they do not have a remote pilot certification.“Flying a drone over a stadium full of fans is dangerous and illegal without the proper FAA training, licensing, and approved flight plan," FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the FAA and local police to investigate these incidents when proper FAA protocols and procedures are not followed.”
Two Cincinnati men have pleaded guilty to illegally flying drones over professional sporting events, the Department of Justice says.
Two men, 24-year-old Dailon Dabney and 38-year-old Travis Lenhoff, were indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022 for separate incidents involving Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds events.
Officials say Dabney allegedly flew his drone into the stadium and "hovered over the players and portions of the stadium crowd," during the Jan. 15, 2022 Bengals game against the Raiders.
Authorities say Dabney recorded his drone flight and posted the video to social media sites.
DOJ alleges Lenhoff flew a drone into the restricted flight area of Great American Ballpark during the Opening Day festivities for the Reds on April 12, 2022.
Both pleaded guilty Tuesday before a judge to one count of violating a temporary flight restriction, a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.
“It is not worth risking federal criminal charges to illegally fly a drone over events like Reds and Bengals games. Even if there is no intent to harm, this conduct poses a direct risk to the players and the individuals in the stands,” U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker said in a statement. “As we kickoff FC Cincinnati and Reds seasons this month, and look to summer concert season, we ask the public to refrain from using drones illegally over events.”
Officials say any drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Dabney’s and Lenhoff’s drones were not registered with the FAA, and they do not have a remote pilot certification.
“Flying a drone over a stadium full of fans is dangerous and illegal without the proper FAA training, licensing, and approved flight plan," FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge J. William Rivers said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the FAA and local police to investigate these incidents when proper FAA protocols and procedures are not followed.”
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