The FCC has affirmed a $20,000 fine against an alleged radio pirate and has proposed fines against two others. All three are in the greater New York City area.
First, it affirmed a penalty against Jean Boncoeur for operating a station called “Radio Gold Stars” on 90.5 MHz in Spring Valley, N.Y. The commission had issued a notice of apparent liability in January, and it says Boncoeur never filed a response.
His fine is supposed to be paid within 30 days. As with all such cases, if it’s not paid, the FCC may refer it to the Justice Department.
[Related: “FCC Plans to Fine Four for Pirate Activity Around New York City”]
Separately, the commission is proposing a $20,000 fine against the alleged operators of a station called “TOG Radio 105.3 FM” in the Bronx. They are Neville Morgan, Lilleth Morgan and The Sweet Hour of Prayer Inc.
The Enforcement Bureau used direction-finding to trace that signal to a multi-family residential building. The station shares a website with Sweet Hour of Prayer, which identifies Neville and Lilleth Morgan as the station owners and operators and contains videos of broadcasts that identify them as its hosts.
The website described TOG as “a new community radio station started in March of 2019, and it’s quite a successful radio station in the community.” It also states, “We are celebrating almost 18 years of our Radio Prayer Ministry. We have been on several radio stations over the almost 18 years, such as 91.7 FM Kingdom Connection and 97.3 FM.”
Last, the FCC issued a notice of apparent liability for $25,000 against Albercio Mercado for operating “Manzana FM” on 94.9 MHz in the Bronx.
That case dates to the summer of 2024, when agents said it responded to “consumer complaints” and traced a signal to a building on Kingsbridge Ave. The building superintendent told them an individual had asked for permission to install the antenna and equipment. Later that day, the agents spoke by phone with Mercado; they said he admitted being the operator of “Manzana FM,” and they told him to stop.
But in June 2025, the FCC said it found the station at a new address on West 193rd Street. The building superintendent there said Mercado had paid him to allow installation.
And in January of this year agents again traced the signal to the 193rd Street site. They again spoke with him by phone and told him he could not operate without a license. During the investigation, they found Mercado’s Facebook page, with a video showing him in what appeared to be the “Manzana FM” studio, with a banner on the wall advertising Manzana 94.9 FM. In the video, Mercado identified himself, the station’s name and its frequency.
The recipients of the notices of apparent liability have 30 days to pay or respond.
Since 2020, according to a commission database, New York leads all other states in the number of FCC enforcement actions involving pirate radio.
