A Newport News man is headed to federal prison after orchestrating a dangerous hoax that triggered a massive Coast Guard search and ended in violent threats against federal officers. Justin P. Stahmer, 39, was sentenced to 56 months in prison for making a false distress call and threatening a Coast Guard boarding officer — a crime that put lives at risk and wasted critical emergency resources.
Stahmer was convicted by a federal jury on November 13, 2017, following a trial that exposed the full scope of his reckless actions. On June 20, 2016, while alone on his vessel several miles northeast of Cape Henry, Virginia, Stahmer radioed a false ‘man overboard’ alert on VHF Channel 16 — the International Distress Frequency. Despite no one being in the water, the call instantly launched a high-stakes search operation involving a 45-foot patrol boat, an 87-foot cutter, and a search-and-rescue helicopter.
For over 45 minutes, Coast Guard personnel scrambled to verify the emergency, responding to Stahmer’s deception with full emergency protocols. When they located his boat, Stahmer first denied making any distress call, then shifted his story — claiming he’d signaled for help because he ran out of gas. The lie unraveled quickly under inspection. As Coast Guard Boarding Officers approached, Stahmer turned hostile, shouting and refusing cooperation.
The situation escalated when Virginia Marine Resource Commission Police arrived and arrested Stahmer for operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol. While being transported to shore, Stahmer launched into a violent outburst, kicking at officers and directly threatening one Coast Guard Boarding Officer, snarling that he would ‘take him out’ if he ever saw him again. The threat was recorded and later presented as evidence at trial.
U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson handed down the 56-month sentence, condemning Stahmer’s actions as a serious abuse of emergency systems and a direct challenge to federal authority. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Kosky and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Gavin, with support from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Chesapeake Region.
Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick and Special Agent in Charge Marty J. Martinez emphasized the danger posed by false distress calls, noting such hoaxes divert life-saving assets from real emergencies. Court documents in Case No. 2:16-cr-123 are available through the Eastern District of Virginia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office and the PACER system.
Related Federal Cases
- Ex-National Guard Soldier Admits Plot to Aid ISIS · Washington
- Justin Nojan Sullivan Pleads Guilty to ISIS Terror Plot · North Carolina
- Hazelton Inmate Foster Gets 6.5 Years for Guard Assault · West Virginia
- Mabscott Man, Justin Saunders, Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearm · West Virginia
- D.C. Robber Nabbed: Six Counts, 25 Years Loom · Virginia
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
