A man has entered a guilty plea for intentionally sinking a 25-foot Bayliner boat in Lake Ontario on August 22, 2022, and subsequently providing false information to investigators. Sergei Migitskiy undertook the deliberate act of sinking the vessel without reporting the incident to authorities. The sunken boat was discovered on August 26, four days later, by a civilian who promptly notified the United States Coast Guard.
In response to the discovery, the Coast Guard and New York State Police initiated an extensive search and rescue operation on Lake Ontario. The operation, which involved the deployment of boats, aircraft, and SCUBA teams, incurred costs amounting to $15,442. The response was triggered by the initial concern that there might be victims requiring rescue, a concern that later proved to be unfounded.
Upon being questioned by investigators on October 4, 2022, Migitskiy opted to fabricate a false narrative. He falsely claimed to have donated the boat to unidentified individuals and provided a deceptive description of these supposed recipients. Additionally, he lied about the method employed to remove the boat from his property.
Having confessed to making a materially false statement, Migitskiy now faces potential penalties, including a sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The sentencing for this case is scheduled for April 18. The incident not only strained emergency response resources unnecessarily but also posed risks to public safety, underscoring the severity of Migitskiy’s actions.
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