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Man charged with flying drone over Bay Area NFL games

SAN JOSE — A 56-year-old Sacramento area man violated national defense airspace regulations in 2017 when he used a drone to drop anti-media leaflets on NFL games at Levi’s Stadium and the Oakland Coliseum, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tracey Michael Mapes

Tracey Michael Mapes, 56, of North Highlands, faces up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine if convicted of the charges, which were filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Jose.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Mapes modified a drone to carry a payload of leaflets.