Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
UFO Hoax Leads to Arrest of New Jersey Men
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 3, 2009
Modified Apr 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 3, 2009
Modified Apr 3, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Two men who released helium balloons with flares attached into the night sky above Morris County, NJ say they were "on a mission to help people think rationally and question the credibility of so-called UFO 'professionals.' " But professionals in the field of law-enforcement have some questions of their own, and local prosecutor Robert Bianchi has filed disorderly person charges against Chris Russo, 29, and Joe Rudy, 28. Speaking to reporters yesterday, Bianchi said, "If there is a single word to describe this... it is in essence stupidity."
Rudy, a science teacher, and Russo, who works in sales, revealed their identities in an article for eSkeptic magazine explaining the hoax, which took place over the course of five nights in January and early February: "Like most other people, we had always heard about the uneducated farmer spotting an alien spaceship hovering over his farm, but we wondered if that amount of gullibility could be found in our upper-middle class hometown of Hanover, NJ, and the surrounding cities." Indeed, gullibility could be found, and though local police immediately dismissed the phenomenon as road flares attached to balloons, the media ran with the story, and soon History Channel show "UFO Hunters" was on the scene.
Russo and Rudy finally ended their "social experiment" after Bianchi issued a public statement asking the unidentified light-launchers to stop because they could be interfering with planes traveling to area airports. Yesterday, Bianchi said their actions were "indictable offenses," but because they'd ended the hoax at his urging, he would take a "measured approach." And in addition to their eSkeptic article, Russo and Rudy documented every aspect of the hoax on video; it's all here for those who want to disbelieve.
Tagged
hoax
new jersey
ufo
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
The fight over a consolidation plan for a hospital in Hudson captures a trend throughout the state.
By
Samuel King
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
The deal would compensate over 1,300 alleged victims and help the church avoid bankruptcy.
By
Arya Sundaram
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
NYPD: Officer shot, injured knife-wielding woman during ‘chaotic’ night at Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .