August 19, 2009
For more information contact:
Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Dixie A. Morrow
(850) 444-4000
INDIANA MAN SENTENCED OVER FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR DESTRUCTION OF AIRCRAFT
AND FALSE DISTRESS MESSAGE
Pensacola, Florida - United States Attorney Thomas F. Kirwin, Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Damon Rodriguez, Coast Guard Investigative Service Gulf Region, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Special Agent in Charge - Acting Marliest Gonzalez, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Sunrise, Florida, announced today that Marcus Schrenker, 38, McCordsville, Indiana, was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment for willfully damaging, destroying, and wrecking his aircraft and willfully communicating a false distress message which caused the United States Coast Guard to attempt to save his life and property when no help was needed. Schrenker was ordered to pay restitution to the United States Coast Guard in the amount of $34,649.09 for the cost of the search and rescue effort, and restitution to Harley Davidson Credit Corporation, the lien holder, in the amount of $871, 387.85 for the aircraft. The latter amount was ordered offset by any payment by U.S. Specialty Insurance Corporation to Harley Davidson, the insurer.
A copy of the detailed Factual Basis for Guilty Plea entered into the Court record On June 5, 2009 is appended to this Release.
This case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the United States Department of Transportation - Office of the Inspector General, assisted by: the United States Coast Guard, the Federal Aviation Administration, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Santa Rosa (Florida) Sheriff’s Department, the Gadsden County (Florida) Office, the United States Air Force, the United States Air Force 84th Radar Evaluation Squadron (McChord Air Force Base, Washington), the Louisiana Air National Guard, the Tallahassee (Florida) Police Department, the Harpersville (Alabama) Police Department, the Talladega (Alabama) Police Department, the Childersburg (Alabama) Police Department, the Vincent (Alabama) Police Department, the Escambia County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.
Attachment
Factual Basis for Guilty Plea