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L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS CITE EZ STOP IN PONCHATOULA
CLOSED SEASON FROGGERS CITED IN ST LANDRY PARISH
BOAT LANDING BURGLAR CAPTURED BY L.D.W.F. AGENT
TWO MEN CITED FOR RED DRUM
VIOLATIONS IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH
MOREHOUSE PARISH MAN CITED FOR HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT
J.E.A. PATROL UNCOVERS RECREATIONAL FISHING VIOLATIONS IN
JEFFERSON PARISH
PLAQUEMINES PARISH MAN CITED FOR VIOLATING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND
HOSPITALS TRANSPLANT PERMIT
L.D.W.F. ENFORCEMENT AGENTS CITE EZ STOP IN PONCHATOULA
Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents on cited the owners of
the EZ Stop convenience store in Ponchatoula on May 18, 2007. The owners were
charged with purchasing illegal game fish from LDWF undercover agents.
Slidell
residents Van Kim Pham, 41, and Xoan Dinh Vu, 49, were each charged with one
count of purchasing game fish. The transaction took place in their convenience
store in Ponchatoula last October.
This action brings to an
end a complaint that was investigated by the Enforcement Division.
The penalty for purchasing
and or selling game fish includes fines ranging between $350 and $500 and jail
for 30 days, license revocation and forfeiture of anything seized plus court
costs.
Agents from Region 7
participating in the case were Senior Agent T. Miller, Agent D. Varnado and
undercover agents from LDWF Headquarters.
CLOSED SEASON FROGGERS CITED IN ST LANDRY PARISH
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited
Brady L. Chautin, 26, and David M. Turner Jr., 23, both of Arnaudville, and Ross
J. Fredrick, 25, of Breaux Bridge on May 4 for alleged closed season frogging
violations in St. Landry Parish.
Agents responded to a complaint near Arnaudville and stopped the three men as
they exited a crawfish pond. The three men were found in possession of
nine frogs. The season for frogging is closed during the months of April and
May.
If convicted, the penalty for frogging during a closed season carries a fine up
to $500, or jail time not more than 90 days, or both plus court costs. All the
frogs were seized and released back to the wild.
Agents participating in this case were Sgt. Travis Huval and Agent Lance
Devillier.
BOAT LANDING BURGLAR CAPTURED BY L.D.W.F. AGENT
Jamie Francisco, 27, of Marksville, was arrested April, 24, 2007, by
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Senior
Agent Doug Anderson for allegedly stealing items from a vehicle parked at
the Boggy Bayou boat landing on the Spring Bayou Wildlife Management Area
(WMA).
Several vehicle burglaries on Spring Bayou WMA were reported to the
Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office starting in February of 2007. LDWF agents
and Avoyelles Parish deputies worked together to set up surveillance and
increase patrols in an attempt to apprehend the burglar.
On April 23, 2007, Anderson along with LDWF Agent Byron Cammack watched
Francisco as he appeared to be checking several vehicles to see if any were
unlocked.
The next day Anderson observed Francisco returned to the boat landing and
removed items from a parked vehicle. Anderson arrested Francisco while he
was attempting to leave the area. During the arrest, a large amount of
suspected crack cocaine and several stolen items were recovered from his
vehicle.
Francisco was booked into the Avoyelles Parish Jail on 10 counts of simple
burglary, eight counts of simple criminal damage to property, three counts
of attempted burglary, possession of crack cocaine with intent to
distribute, illegal possession of stolen things and failure to abide by WMA
rules and regulations. Judges William Bennett and Mark Jeansonne of the
12th Judicial District set Francisco's bond at $150,000.
The penalty for simple burglary and attempted burglary is a fine up to
$2,000, imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to 12 years or both.
Simple criminal damage to property is punishable by a fine up to $10,000,
imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to 10 years or both. The
penalty for possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute is a fine
up to $50,000, imprisonment at hard labor for two to 30 years or both.
Illegal possession of stolen things is punishable by a fine up to $3,000,
imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to 10 years or both. The
penalty for failure to abide by WMA rules and regulations is a fine of $100
to $350, or jail for not more than 60 days, or both plus court cost.
Lt. Eric Stokes, Sgt. Rusty Perry, and Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Detective
Jeffery Carmouche also participated in the case.
TWO MEN CITED FOR RED DRUM VIOLATIONS IN PLAQUEMINES PARISH
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Agents
cited two men on April 28 for alleged red drum violations in Plaquemines
parish.
Eusebio Figueredo, 44, of Baton Rouge, and Roberto Garcia, 44, of Kenner,
were each cited for allegedly taking over the legal limit of red drum.
Roberto Garcia was also cited for fishing without a required basic and
saltwater license.
Agents stopped the two men near the Jefferson Lake Canal as they were
fishing from a boat and found them to be in possession of 18 red drum. The
daily limit on red drum is five fish per person per day.
If convicted, the penalty for taking over the limit of red drum carries a
fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both, plus an additional
fine of $150 per fish over the limit paid to LDWF. The penalty for fishing
without a basic and saltwater license carries a $50 penalty per offense, or
jail time up to 15 days or both. The state shall also assess a civil
penalty for the value of each illegal fish. A total of $ 281.00 was
assessed in this case. All the fish were seized and later donated to
charity.
Agents participating in this case were Sgt. Scot Keller and Senior Agent
Adam Young.
MOREHOUSE PARISH MAN CITED FOR HUNTING TURKEYS OVER BAIT
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited Glen A. Frost, 47, of Bastrop on April 17 for allegedly hunting
turkeys over a baited area in northern Morehouse Parish.
After receiving a complaint from a citizen, agents entered Frost's hunting
area on April 16 and located the illegal turkey bait. Frost was found
hunting the next morning approximately 10 feet from an area baited with
corn. Agents made contact with Frost after they observed him lying on the
ground in camouflage clothing holding a shotgun and facing a turkey decoy.
Agents collected samples of the bait for evidence and photographed the area.
The penalty for hunting turkeys over a baited area is a fine between $250
and $500, or jail time up to 90 days, or both plus court costs.
To report wildlife law violations call "Operation Game Thief" anytime at
1-800-442-2511. Callers do not have to give their name or testify in court.
Cash rewards of up to $1,000 are awarded for information leading to the
arrests of wildlife violators.
Agents participating in the case were Lt. Rick Owens, Sgt. Darren Bruce and
Senior Agent Justin Lee.
J.E.A. PATROL UNCOVERS RECREATIONAL FISHING VIOLATIONS IN JEFFERSON PARISH
Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents
cited a father and son on April 16 for alleged recreational fishery
violations in Jefferson Parish.
Curtis A. Verdin Sr., 52, and Curtis A. Verdin Jr., 32, both of Lafitte,
were each cited for allegedly taking over the limit of red drum in excess of
27 inches.
Agents were on a Joint Enforcement Agreement (JEA) patrol funded by NOAA and
the National Marine Fisheries Service when the father and son were
encountered in the Gulf of Mexico near Barataria Pass. The agents found the
Verdins in possession of six red drum, all of which were over 27 inches in
length. Louisiana law prohibits a recreational fisherman from possessing
more than one red drum over 27 inches per day.
If convicted, the possession of over the limit of red drum in excess of 27
inches carries a fine up to $300, plus an additional fine of $150 per fish,
and the revocation of any and all fishing licenses held for the period for
which issued. The offender shall be prohibited from obtaining any new
licenses for up to three years thereafter. The state shall also assess a
civil penalty for the value of each illegal fish. A total of $1,155 was
assessed in this case. All fish were seized and later donated.
Agents participating in the investigation were Sgts. Eddie Skena and Herman
Champagne.
PLAQUEMINES PARISH MAN CITED FOR
VIOLATING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HOSPITALS TRANSPLANT PERMIT
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement
Division
agents cited a Plaquemines Parish resident on April 11 for alleged
violations of the state sanitary code specific to oysters.
Agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force and Enforcement Region 8
investigated subjects utilizing Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)
transplant permits in lower St. Bernard Parish. Agents boarded the motor
vessel "Champion" and found the boat captain in violation of the permit.
Agents cited Brock Joseph Buras, 30, of Port Sulphur, for two violations of
the transplant permit. Buras was cited within the last three years for
oyster harvesting violations and did not have the transplant permit on the
vessel.
State sanitary code regulations require that no permittee, boat captain or
crew member may serve on any vessel subject to this permit who has been
cited or found guilty of violations relative to the harvesting of shellfish
within three years of the application date; provided, however that said
permittee, crew member or boat captain may receive a waiver of this
condition with regard to those citations which did not result in a
conviction upon the appropriate showing being made to LDWF.
State sanitary code regulations require that a copy of the complete
transplant permit and applicable rules shall be on board each authorized
vessel at all times during the active period of the transplant permit.
Failure to comply with any of the permitting requirements specified in
§§141-147 shall result in the following administrative action:
1. The transplant permit and all transplant permitting privileges shall be
immediately suspended by DHH or LDWF.
2. All shellfish harvested for transplanting purposes in violation of
permitting requirements shall be returned to the original growing waters or
destroyed at a permittee's own expense.
3. If said charges are upheld in an administrative hearing, the following
additional penalties shall be imposed:
a. Transplant permitting privileges shall be denied for a
period of three years.
b. The $5,000 cash bond posted by the permittee shall be
forfeited and retained by the state.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Bryan Marie, Sr. Agt. Mike
Garrity, Lt. Stephen McManus, Senior Agent Kris Bourgeois and Cpt. Brian
Clark. |
