Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agents cited eight Mississippi men for allegedly failing to keep saltwater species intact on July 12 the Breton Sound area of St. Bernard Parish.

Kevin Ramage, 36, of Ocean Springs, Michael Duane Kuljis, 31, of Biloxi, Joseph Callahan, 53, of Ocean Springs, Roy Anderson, III, 52, Sam Ferrell Alman, 52, Roy Anderson, Jr., 80, Lindy Thomas Callahan, 82, and Sam Alman, III, 82, all of Gulfport were aboard the "Trigger" when LDWF agents on a Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) patrol stopped the vessel. 

Upon searching the vessel, agents discovered 20 gallon sized bags containing approximately 90 pounds of fresh fish filets.  According to Louisiana law, fishermen are allowed a maximum of two pounds of filets per person for consumption aboard vessels with cooking facilities.  Legally the fishermen could have possessed a total of 16 pounds of fresh fish filets for the eight people on board.

Failing to keep saltwater species intact is a Class 3 violation carrying a fine for first offenders between $250 and $500, or imprisonment for up to 90 days or both. 

Agents seized, documented as evidence and donated all filets to a local charitable organization. 

Case agents were Sgt. Scot Keller, Sgt. Jason Russo and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents cited two men on July 15 for allegedly using skimmer nets for shrimping during the closed season in Plaquemines Parish.  

The agents observed a commercial vessel using skimmer nets in Bay Jaques.  Bay Jaques had recently been closed to shrimp harvesting on June 22. 

Agents approached the vessel and identified the captain on board as Christopher Wade Cooper, 20, of Venice, and one deckhand as Justin Poyadou, 18, also of Venice.  Both were cited for using skimmer nets during a closed season. In addition, the captain was cited for no running lights.

Using skimmer nets during a closed season carries a maximum fine of $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and forfeiture of anything seized.  Operating a vessel at night without running lights is punishable by a fine of $50, or imprisonment for up to 15 days, or both plus court costs. 

Agents seized the shrimp in the nets and returned them to the water.   

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agent Jason Gernados and Senior Agent Villere Reggio.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents in Sabine Parish arrested Johnny T. Brumfield, 24, of Many, for allegedly possessing a large quantity of marijuana on June 27.

Lt. Bill Tyree and Senior Agent Russell Brack were investigating the illegal dumping of household garbage on Blackwell Creek Road when they made contact with Brumfield at his residence.  Agents discovered over six pounds of marijuana, two sets of scales, and various other items of drug paraphernalia in the residence. 

Brumfield was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for illegal possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.  Brumfield was also issued a citation for gross littering.

The penalties for illegal possession of marijuana with intent to distribute are imprisonment at hard labor between five to 30 years and a fine up to $50,000.  Illegal possession of drug paraphernalia is punishable by a fine up to $500, or imprisonment for up to six months or both.  The penalties for gross littering are a fine between $500 to $1,000 and eight hours of community service. 

LDWF Sgt. Joe Dewil and Senior Agent Ronnie Robertson assisted in the case along with Many Police Department Officers Heath Lemmons and Stanley Cook.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited two Ouachita Parish men on July 5 for allegedly taking over the limit of game fish on the Ouachita River in Morehouse Parish. 

Michael Odom, 42, of Calhoun, and Martin Costin, 37, of West Monroe were both cited after agents patrolling the Ouachita River stopped their vessel to conduct a boating safety check.  Agents discovered 109 freshly caught black bass in their boats live well.  After questioning both men allegedly admitted to taking over the limit of the game fish earlier in the day.  The daily limit for black bass is 10 per person.  The agents seized the fish.

The penalty for taking over the limit of freshwater game fish is a fine between $100 to $350, or up to 60 days in jail, or both, plus court costs.  The conviction could also carry an additional penalty of revocation of fishing privileges for up to one year.

Agents participating in the investigation were Lt. Rick Owens, Sgts Scott Mathews, Wayne Parker, Jamey Hagan, Darren Bruce, Senior Agents Wendell Weeks and John Miller.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited three men on June 19 for alleged oyster violations in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish.

Denny Louis Guerra Jr., 38, and Matthew Martinez, 21, both from Violet, and Ronnie Arcement, 31, from St. Bernard were cited for taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms.

Responding to complaints in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessel She’s A Keeper dredging for oysters on unleased water bottoms.  The area in question contains private leases and unleased state water bottoms. 

Utilizing LDWF's global positioning satellite equipment, agents marked the location before boarding the vessels.  The location was proven to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvesting is illegal.

Agents seized and returned 20 sacks of oysters to the water and placed two oyster dredges and the boat being used under a department seizure order. 

 
The penalty for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms is a fine up to $950, imprisonment for up to 120 days, or both plus courts costs. 

In addition, any person convicted of any these violations may for one year after the date of such conviction only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall notify the department as to which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie and Senior Agent Mike Garrity.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Ouachita Parish man on June 12 for possessing an alligator during a closed season. 

Agents cited Robert Adam Moore, 17, of West Monroe, after receiving information of a man at a fast food restaurant parking lot with a live alligator in the back of a truck. 

Agents located Moore near his residence and questioned him about the alligator.  Moore produced the alligator and allegedly confessed that he had caught it earlier in the day at Cheniere Lake south of West Monroe.  Agents seized the 2 1/2 foot alligator and released it into the wild.

The penalty for possessing an alligator in a closed season is a fine from $400 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court cost.

Agents involved in the case were Sgt. Thomas Risser and Senior Agent John Volentine

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited a Monroe man for multiple boating safety violations on June 14. 

Agents cited John M. Smithey, 41, after receiving information that he was operating a personal water craft (PWC) in a careless manner at night on Darbonne Bayou in the area of Joe Bob’s Landing.  Smithey and his passenger, Clinton Miller, 38, also of Monroe, pulled the PWC onto private property along the bayou leading to a verbal altercation between Smithey and the owner of the residence. 

Ouachita Parish Sheriff Office was called to the scene where deputies arrested Smithey for criminal trespass, disturbing the peace and criminal damage to property.  Miller was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office for criminal trespass. 

LDWF agents joined the investigation and determined that Smithey had allegedly been operating the PWC at night, which is illegal under Louisiana’s boating laws.  Smithey had reportedly been traveling at high speeds, operating carelessly during the night, until the PWC turned over and filled with water.  Smithey was cited by LDWF agents for careless operation of a watercraft, expired boat registration, failure to display valid decal, improper numbers, no fire extinguisher, no boat registration in possession, failure to comply with personal flotation device requirements and operating a PWC during illegal hours.

The penalty for careless operation of a watercraft is a fine of up to $300, or jail time up to 30 days, or both plus court cost.  The additional seven boating safety violations are punishable by a fine of $50 each.

Agents involved in the case are Sgt. Duane Taylor and Senior Agent John Volentine.