2 men accused of flying drones over Reds, Bengals games indicted on federal charges

Kevin Grasha and Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
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A man accused of flying a drone over Great American Ballpark on Opening Day this year and another man accused of doing the same thing during a Bengals playoff game in January have been indicted on federal charges, officials said.

One faces a maximum of three years in prison. The other faces up to four years.

On April 12, Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds, officials said Travis Lenhoff flew a drone into the restricted flight area over Great American Ball Park.

Lenhoff, 38, lives in Covington, records say. When contacted Thursday, he declined to comment.

Three months earlier, during a January Bengals' playoff game at then-Paul Brown Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders, officials say 24-year-old Dailon Dabney "illegally flew his drone into the stadium and hovered over the players and portions of the … crowd."

Officials said Dabney, a Springfield Township resident, posted a video of the drone flight to social media sites and YouTube.

He could not be reached by phone Thursday.

A federal grand jury in Cincinnati handed down the charges Wednesday in the separate incidents, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Illegal use of drones a growing problem

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said in a statement that the illegal use of drones is a growing problem and "poses a direct risk to the players and the individuals in the stands."

"Even if the operator does not have an intent to harm," Parker said, "the operator could easily lose control and injure someone."

Any drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Neither of the drones allegedly operated by Lenhoff or Dabney were registered with the FAA, officials said, and the men do not have remote pilot certifications.

Each is charged with operating an unregistered drone, which is punishable by up to three years in prison. Dabney also is charged with violating a temporary flight restriction, which carries a maximum one-year prison sentence.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Two accused of flying drones over Reds, Bengals games indicted