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Richard Dominguez was arrested following a joint investigation into a pirate radio operation in Croton-on-Hudson. Officials said that FCC field agents traced the illegal broadcasts and located Dominguez, who had his radio equipment seized.
Dominguez has been charged with unauthorized radio transmission.
According to investigators, field agents received complaints of a pirate radio signal that was broadcasting on 98.5 FM in Croton-on-Hudson earlier this year. The illegal station was allegedly operated by Dominguez under the name of “La Mojada FM,” Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino, Jr., said.
The FCC investigation led investigators to Scarpino’s office, which led to the joint investigation and Dominguez’s arrest.
“We are proud to work with our federal partners to root out criminals wherever they are breaking the law in our community,” Scarpino said. “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.”
According to the FCC, the “Enforcement Bureau has led the Commission’s renewed commitment to combating unlawful broadcasting. This crackdown 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.”
“Pirate radio operations interfere with licensed broadcasting—including public safety messages,” Rosemary Harold, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau stated. “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.”
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