Chicago Man Arrested for Interfering with Operation of CTA Trains and Buses

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was joined today by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois in announcing the arrest of a Chicago man for making unauthorized radio transmissions over frequencies utilized by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

MARCEL CARTER, age 20, who resides at 235 West 37th Place in Chicago, was arrested late Friday evening, without incident, by Officers of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). CARTER was subsequently turned over to members of the Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) who conducted additional investigation resulting in the filing of a criminal complaint in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The complaint charges CARTER with Interfering with the Operation of a Mass Transit Vehicle, which is a felony offense.

According to the complaint, beginning in June of 2008 and continuing until Friday of last week, an unknown individual, believed to be CARTER, began making unauthorized radio transmissions over frequencies used by the CTA to communicate with bus and rail operators. The transmissions started out as being harassing in nature, but escalated to the point where the male speaker began issuing and countermanding official orders for trains and buses. The transmissions also became more frequent in number.

The complaint alleges that between June 3rd and July 30th of this year, over 300 unauthorized transmissions were made over the CTA frequencies, all of which were recorded by the CTA. The complaint also cites an incident that occurred on June 2nd of this year, where an unauthorized transmission was made, with the caller impersonating the operator of a CTA Blue Line train that was approaching the Logan Square station. When questioned by the CTA control center, the unauthorized caller then began impersonating the CTA control center and began citing rules authorizing a CTA train to proceed through a stop signal. At the time this was occurring, a CTA train was in fact approaching the Logan Square station and it arrived safely under the direction of the CTA Control Center.              

CARTER was eventually identified on Friday when he approached a CTA customer service representative on the Red line at the Jackson Street station, asking if there was a reward offered for the return of a stolen CTA radio. When the service representative put CARTER in touch with a CTA Supervisor over the telephone, the supervisor recognized CARTER’s voice as that of individual who had been making the unauthorized transmissions.

CARTER appeared before Magistrate Judge Morton Denlow in Chicago, earlier today, at which time he was formally charged. CARTER was released on bond bond, pending his next scheduled court appearance, which is scheduled for August 10th at 2:00 p.m. If convicted of the charge filed against him, CARTER faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years' incarceration.

This investigation was conducted in cooperation with the CTA’s Security Department. The CTA noted that at no time, did these unauthorized radio transmissions cause any accidents nor were passengers in immediate danger.

The Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is comprised of FBI Special Agents, Officers from the Chicago Police Department and representatives from approximately 20 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants in a criminal case are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A copy of the criminal complaint filed in this case is available from the Chicago FBI’s press office at (312) 829-1199.