Acting United States Attorney Thomas F. Kirwin, Northern District of Florida, announced Wednesday the filing of a federal criminal complaint and issuance of an arrest warrant for Marcus Schrenker, 38, McCordsville, Indiana.

The complaint alleges that on or about January 11, 2009, Schrenker knowingly and willfully communicated a false distress message and caused the United States Coast Guard to attempt to save lives and property when no help was needed, in violation of Title 14, United States Code, Section 88(c).

The complaint further alleges that Schrenker willfully damaged, destroyed or wrecked an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or a civil aircraft used, operated or employed in interstate air commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 32(a)(1).

Schrenker is currently in custody incident to a warrant issued by the State of Indiana. Indiana officials have consented to allowing the federal case to proceed before Schrenck’s extradition to that State. On execution of the federal arrest warrant, Schrenker is expected to make an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Pensacola, Florida. No hearing date has been set.

This case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Department of Transportation - Office of the Inspector General, the Childersburg, Alabama Police Department, the Harpersville, Alabama Police Department, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation and Safety Board.

This prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers.

A criminal complaint is a charging document.

Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

You can view several of the documents firsthand, all are attached below.