Lake Ontario boat incident results in search, federal charges for 'Wayne's World' owner

Gary Craig, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·1 min read
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Vyacheslav Migitskiy used his 33-foot Sea Ray boat, named "Wayne's World," to tow another vessel in Lake Ontario on an August evening in 2022, federal prosecutors allege.

Then he capsized that ship, they claim.

A witness spotted the "partially submerged vessel with the bow out of the water about 200 yards off the shore in Lake Ontario" and near the Genesee River early the next morning, according to court papers. That report sparked a Coast Guard search in the water and a New York State Police helicopter from above; the costs of the search totaled almost $15,500, the court papers say.

Migitskiy, 33, is now charged with destruction of a vessel, making a false statement and sinking of a vessel in a navigable channel.

But why? Court documents do not provide a theory yet.

"It was determined that no individuals were on vessel," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release about the discovery of the boat — a 25-foot 1987 Bayliner — and the subsequent search. "It was also determined that the propellers and boat plug were missing, and all electronics were removed from the vessel."

The Coast Guard Investigative Service traced the ownership of the Bayliner to Migitskiy, who claimed he advertised the boat on Facebook then gave the boat to individuals he could not identify.

Investigators then turned to surveillance videos from businesses and the West Irondequoit Central School District that allegedly showed "Wayne's World" being used by Migitskiy to tow and sink the Bayliner in the lake.

Migitskiy appeared in federal court Thursday and has been released on his own recognizance, awaiting trial.

— Gary Craig is a veteran reporter with the Democrat and Chronicle, covering courts and crime and more. You can reach Craig at gcraig@rocheste.gannett.com. He is the author of two books, including "Seven Million: A Cop, a Priest, a Soldier for the IRA, and the Still-Unsolved Rochester Brink's Heist." He has seen the classic movie "Wayne's World" at least twice but has been known to stop flipping channels for it on TV.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Vyacheslav Migitskiy accused of sinking boat in Lake Ontario NY