Charges were brought against a 63-year-old Chicago man on Tuesday for allegedly using an illegal device to find peace and quiet while on the CTA.
It has been reported by Audrina Bigos of CBS 2 that the man has a history of being accused of jamming cell phones, and the abundance of complaints about dropped calls has garnered attention.
Dennis Nicholl, a certified public accountant, left jail in a ball cap and business casual attire after being charged with a felony for using a signal jamming device.
Keegan Goudie noted that the device was highly visible, leading him and his brother to publish a blog post on thesixthirty.com following their sighting on the CTA Red Line.
Chas commented that it seemed he was involved in dubious activities, and that the device was not something he should be touching.
Cell phone jamming equipment can be found for sale online, with prices varying from $30 to $300. Federal legislation prohibits the sale, purchase, or operation of these devices. These signal blocker are designed to interfere with cell phone reception, police radios, and emergency calls.
In Keegan's opinion, it highlights the abilities of individuals in terms of security and the potential dangers posed by terrorists in any major city.
The Chicago Police conducted a thorough investigation over several months into reports of dropped calls on the Red Line. Eventually, a 911 caller flagged police about the now notorious Nicholl. He was arrested by undercover officers on a CTA platform on Tuesday and is currently facing a felony charge.
According to attorney Charles Lauer, there was no ill will to harm anyone.
In an effort to attain a moment of tranquility, Nicholl's lawyer states that he employed the jammer due to his irritation with the numerous individuals engrossed in their cell phones, aiming to find some peace and quiet.
In accordance with FCC rules, those who operate cell phone blocker may be liable for imprisonment and substantial fines. The fines can be as high as $16,000 per violation or reach up to $112,000 for a single instance of using the device.
Wednesday evening marked Nicholl's release from jail after being bonded out.