Sac Man Charged In Violating Airspace Over Levi's Stadium: DOJ

SANTA CLARA, CA — A federal criminal complaint filed Tuesday contends a Sacramento man violated national defense airspace regulations when he flew a drone dropping flyers over two National Football League stadiums in play, U.S. Attorney David Anderson announced Wednesday.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, Tracey Michael Mapes, 56, of North Highlands in Sacramento County modified a drone by adding a compartment underneath its belly to carry a payload. The compartment was used to hold dozens of flyers.

On Nov. 26, 2017, Mapes flew the drone over Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and the Oakland Coliseum in Alameda County, dropping the flyers on the spectators below. First, Mapes piloted the drone over Levi’s Stadium, where the San Francisco 49ers were hosting the Seattle Seahawks. He then piloted the drone over the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, where the Oakland Raiders were hosting the Denver Broncos, the Department of Justice indicated. Tens of thousands of spectators were present for both events.

The Federal Aviation Administration, as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is responsible for the control and use of navigable airspace within the United States. This responsibility includes designating certain airspace as important to national security, and restricting aircraft from operating within that airspace. This “national defense airspace” includes the area above and within a three-mile radius of National Football League stadiums during NFL games.

Mapes is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court on June 4 at 1:30 p.m. before an assigned magistrate judge in San Jose.

If convicted, the defendant may face a sentence of up to one year in jail as well as a fine of $100,000. Further, the court may order additional periods of supervised release, fines, and restitution.

The DOJ was assisted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.