The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating a distress call that turned out to be a hoax. The call came in during stormy weather Sunday evening around 6:00 from a man saying he and his dog were lost at sea off Fort Myers Beach. Nearly a dozen vehicles were launched in a rescue effort, but about four hours later, investigators had traced the call to a land-based phone. Taxpayers are on the hook for the more than $100,000 it cost to mobilize search boats and helicopters. The person responsible will face six years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
