2 Men Face Prison After Drones Fly In Super Bowl Airspace

TAMPA, FL — Two men are facing federal prison after being accused of flying drones in areas that were restricted due to the Super Bowl.

Kevin Jonathan Canty, 33, of West Palm Beach was charged with violating national defense airspace. And Henry Alejandro Jimenez, 33, of Orlando was separately charged with violating national defense airspace as well. The charges were filed by U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez of the U.S. Middle District Court in Tampa.

According to the complaint, on Feb. 6, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) covering an area within 1-mile radius of the stadium up to 18,000 feet in altitude as part of a security plan designed to protect and secure the events leading up to and including Super Bowl LV.

The FAA also restricted drone flights roughly two miles around Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park up to an altitude of 2,000 feet from Jan. 29 to Saturday during NFL Super Bowl Experience.

On Saturday, FBI agents saw an unmanned aircraft system, commonly referred to as a drone, flying near the USF Health building, which was in part of the restricted area. FBI agents found Canty, the operator of the drone, in downtown Tampa, authorities said.

Canty said he is an FAA-licensed remote pilot drone operator and that he was aware that a TFR was in place for the Super Bowl, authorities said. A review of his drone’s flight path showed that it had traveled through downtown Tampa, which was hosting public events related to the Super Bowl, authorities said.

Jimenez was charged in connection with a drone flight Feb. 3. According to the complaint, FBI agents saw a drone near the Barrymore Hotel Tampa Riverwalk. The FBI agents found Jiminez in downtown Tampa.

Like Canty, Jimenez, also an FAA-licensed remote pilot UAS operator, said he knew the restricted area was in place when he flew the drone, authorities said.

A review of his drone’s flight path showed that it had traveled over Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park during the NFL Experience, authorities said.

“This is a perfect example of the serious consequences drone operators face when they choose to ignore the temporary flight restrictions,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson. “The TFRs were in place for the public's safety during Super Bowl week."

Pilots and drone operators who enter the TFRs without permission face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of one year in federal prison.

Both cases will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Scruggs.