Coast Guard Says Gloucester Mayday Call Was A Hoax
GLOUCESTER, Mass. (CBS/AP) -- The Coast Guard says a Mayday call reporting a sinking boat with two sailors on board in the waters off the coast of Gloucester earlier this month is now considered a hoax.
The Coast Guard launched three boats and deployed a helicopter in response to the call on July 7 about a boat taking on water. The search covered 712 square miles, cost about $132,000, and turned up nothing.
The caller said he was on a boat that was going down "20 to 40 minutes" off Gloucester.
No arrests have been reported. Making a false distress call is a federal felony with a maximum penalty of five to 10 years in prison.
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