Media Contact: Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU APPLAUDS WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR PIRATE RADIO CASE Pirate Operator Arraigned Following Joint Westchester DA & FCC Investigation -- WASHINGTON, December 12, 2018—The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office today announced details of a joint investigation resulting in the arrest of and arraignment of a pirate radio operator in Croton-On-Hudson, New York. FCC field agents traced the illegal broadcasts and located the operator, Mr. Richard Dominguez, and worked with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which seized Mr. Dominguez’s radio equipment and arrested him. The investigation led to Mr. Dominguez’s arraignment today on a charge of unauthorized radio transmission. “Pirate radio operations interfere with licensed broadcasting—including public safety messages,” said Rosemary Harold, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau. “It is vital that we combat this problem aggressively, and partnerships like this make that possible. I’m proud of the work of our FCC team and thank Westchester County prosecutors for their commitment to combatting illegal broadcasting.” Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. added: “We are proud to work with our federal partners to root out criminals wherever they are breaking the law in our community. The prosecution of this pirate radio broadcast is a unique collaboration between the Federal Communications Commission and our Investigations Division High Technology Crimes Bureau. No matter what kind of crime is committed here in Westchester, we will prosecute the defendants to the fullest.” In this joint investigation, Enforcement Bureau’s field agents investigated a complaint of a pirate radio signal broadcasting on 98.5 FM in Croton-On-Hudson in Westchester County. This illegal station was operated by Mr. Dominguez under the name “La Mojada FM.” The Commission shared the information with the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, which seized the illegal pirate radio station equipment and arrested its operator. The Enforcement Bureau has led the Commission’s renewed commitment to combating unlawful broadcasting. This crack down on such illegal activity has resulted in unlawful broadcast stations going off the air, seizure of equipment, fines against pirates, proposed fines against pirates and property owners actively aiding pirate radio operations, and other enforcement actions. To enforce the law, the Commission works closely with partners like the Department of Justice and, where state laws apply, state and local law enforcement like the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. The Commission relies on information from consumers and licensed broadcasters to identify pirate radio operators that interfere with local radio service to the public. New York has proven to have one of the greatest concentration of pirate radio activities, as shown in this FCC map: https://go.usa.gov/xRMhe. Federal law generally prohibits the operation of a broadcast radio or TV station without a license issued by the Commission. Congress enacted this requirement nearly a century ago as a means of managing interference to ensure functioning communications. Pirate stations undermine this mission. ### Office of Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275 TTY: (888) 835-5322 Twitter: @FCC www.fcc.gov/media-relations This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).