A man who orchestrated a fake drowning in Galveston, causing a massive and costly search, has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay over $135,000 in restitution. Joseph Grams, 48, from Reagan, Texas, pleaded guilty to the hoax in March and was sentenced on Friday by U.S. Judge George Hanks.
Details of the Hoax
Grams, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence in a Texas prison on unrelated charges, made a false distress call on August 15, 2024. He claimed to be in trouble while kayaking near Galveston’s Pleasure Pier. This triggered a frantic response from police, firefighters, lifeguards, and the Coast Guard, who rushed to the area to search for him. However, when they arrived, they found only a kayak washed up on the shore, with no sign of Grams.
For the next few days, search teams scoured the coastline, looking for any sign of Grams’ body. Despite their efforts, they found nothing. It wasn’t until August 17 that Grams was found alive in his home in Falls County, more than 200 miles away from Galveston. Grams was arrested after an hours-long standoff with authorities.
Charges and Sentencing
Grams was charged with committing a life-saving hoax, which could have carried a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2025. As part of his sentence, Grams will serve three years of probation after completing his state sentence. The probation period will begin once his 12-year sentence for unrelated charges concludes. Additionally, he is required to pay over $135,000 for the resources spent on the false distress call and the subsequent search efforts.
Other Legal Matters
In October 2024, Grams pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including aggravated assault, burglary of a habitation, and bail jumping. These charges were separate from the hoax, which led to the federal indictment. In January 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Grams for the hoax. The one-count indictment accused him of knowingly communicating a false distress signal to the Coast Guard, leading to a wasteful attempt to save lives and property.
Joseph Grams’ actions led to significant resources being wasted in a search that was based on a completely false claim. The court’s decision to sentence him to probation and require him to pay restitution serves as a reminder of the consequences of such hoaxes and the importance of using emergency services responsibly.
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