Pompano Beach Pirate Radio Station Raided, Shut Down by Feds

The Haitian pirate-radio station that broadcast on 92.7 FM is no more, thanks to the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Federal Communications Commission, according to the Sun-Sentinel.That led to the arrest of 31-year-old Mercius Dorvilus, a North Lauderdale resident who the cops say was running the station out of a...

By Matthew Hendley

June 20, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "GPT - Billboard - Slot Inline - Content - Labeled - No Desktop",
          "component": "16971022",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "15769925",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Rectangle 2x - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782206",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "16575154",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "GPT - Leaderboard to Tower - Slot Auto-select - Labeled",
          "component": "15782207",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The Haitian pirate-radio station that broadcast on 92.7 FM is no more, thanks to the Broward Sheriff's Office and the Federal Communications Commission, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

That led to the arrest of 31-year-old Mercius Dorvilus, a North Lauderdale resident who the cops say was running the station out of a room he rented in the 2100 block of NE First Avenue in Pompano Beach.

After raiding the spot on Friday, the FCC managed to make off with a transmitter, mixer, laptop, and portable air conditioner from Dorvilus' room.

The station, which simply called itself "92.7 FM Radio," played Haitian music as well as some reggae and underground rap.

The cops told the Sentinel the station may have been discovered due to reported interference with a licensed radio station on the same frequency -- although the closest FCC-licensed station on 92.7 is WAVW, which broadcasts from Stuart.

Dorvilus is charged with unauthorized transmission and/or interference with a public radio station -- a third-degree felony.

Follow The Pulp on Facebook and on Twitter: @ThePulpBPB.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of South Florida, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.