{"id":16559,"date":"2025-02-14T18:57:26","date_gmt":"2025-02-14T18:57:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/14\/brampton-man-busted-in-florida-for-drone-photos-at-trumps-space-force-base\/"},"modified":"2025-02-14T18:57:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-14T18:57:26","slug":"brampton-man-busted-in-florida-for-drone-photos-at-trumps-space-force-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/02\/14\/brampton-man-busted-in-florida-for-drone-photos-at-trumps-space-force-base\/","title":{"rendered":"Brampton man busted in Florida for drone photos at Trump\u2019s Space Force base"},"content":{"rendered":"


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A Canadian senior has been charged in Florida for allegedly using a drone to illegally photograph classified U.S. defence installations at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.<\/p>\n

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Xiao Guang Pan, 71, of Brampton, Ont., was charged with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph sensitive and vital military facilities and equipment at the Space Force base without the base commander\u2019s prior authorization, according to a criminal complaint filed in Orlando.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tXiao Guang Pan, 71, submitted his drone photos to the Brampton Arts Organization last year and one of his works was among those selected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Peel Region\u2019s creation.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\tBrampton Arts Organization\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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Pan, originally from China, did not immediately respond to requests for comment that were sent to him by telephone and email. In a bio published on the Brampton Arts Organization\u2019s (BAO) website, Pan is described as \u201can enthusiastic drone photographer\/videographer for five years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Pan, who is not currently detained, entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and will appear in court early next week, U.S. court records show.<\/p>\n

On Jan. 5, 6 and 7, prosecutors allege Pan took three aerial photographs of classified Space Force station launch complexes and military equipment inside them operated by three different U.S. defence contractors, who were not named in the complaint.<\/p>\n

Pan\u2019s criminal complaint suggests three photos have been seized by the FBI and Homeland Security.<\/p>\n

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The Brampton resident allegedly took unauthorized photos of a space payload processing facility, a submarine wharf and munitions bunkers, United States attorney Roger B. Handberg said.<\/p>\n

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