Billy Cao Cruz, a 54-year-old resident of Guam, was sentenced to two months of home confinement after pleading guilty to violating national defense airspace laws. The sentencing took place on September 11, 2025, in the District Court of Guam. In addition to home confinement, Cruz received two years of supervised release and must pay a $25 special assessment fee.
On February 1, 2025, Cruz uploaded a video showing sensitive images of a military installation in Guam to his YouTube channel “Planet Guam.” The video attracted nearly 12,000 views before it was removed. Authorities had previously warned Cruz against photographing military installations.
FBI agents met with Cruz at his home on April 16, 2025. During this meeting, he admitted that he continued using a particular drone because it had fewer restrictions and did not require notification to local airports. He stated: “You get away with a lot of things.” After discussing security concerns with the FBI and military officials, Cruz took down the video from YouTube and acknowledged understanding the potential threats posed by foreign adversaries who could use such footage to target U.S. military sites.
United States Attorney Shawn N. Anderson commented: “Nearly all of the airspace over Guam is subject to flight restrictions by aircraft operators. These restrictions help ensure the safe operation of commercial, military, and private aircraft. As this case demonstrates, they also protect our national security, including the military personnel who keep our homeland safe. We encourage anyone with knowledge of this activity to contact the FBI at the earliest opportunity.”
FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter added: “Defending the homeland is at the core of the FBI’s mission, and that includes safeguarding the security of our national defense installations. This was not the first time Mr. Cruz had been warned about operating a drone over a military site, and this case demonstrates the consequences drone operators face when they choose to ignore the law in this manner. The FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who compromises the national security of the United States and its citizens.”
The investigation involved cooperation among several agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Leon Guerrero prosecuted the case.
