Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force cited 22 men on Sept. 16 for alleged oyster violations in Lake Borgne in St. Bernard Parish.

While on patrol in lower St. Bernard Parish, agents saw the vessels, Johnny’s Dream, Venture, LA 8804 BC, Kristen Louise, Miss Mandy, Natasha Marie, Franka, Joey C, Blessed Assurance, and Susie C 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 locations with a lead enforcement vessel before boarding the vessels.  The locations were proven to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvesting is illegal.

George A. Barisich, 53, Joshua Machado, 26, both from Violet; Homero Camargo, 34, and Daniel Camargo, 29, both from St. Bernard; Jose Bocanegra Sr., 44, Jose Bocanegra Jr., Jose Miguel Bocanegra, 43, all from Bacliff, Texas; Albelardo Avilez Carbajal, 46, and Santa Dardar Carbajal, 40, both from Theriot; Trent David Tomasich, 31, and Randy Scott Tomasich, 42, both from Bay St. Louis, Miss; Jorge Perez, 32, from Welmar, Texas; Miguel Perez, 23 from Webster, Texas; Jose Duran, 42, from Houston, Texas; John Blanchard Jr., 29, from Amite; Robert Wade, 40, from Ocean Springs, Miss; Jessy Necaise, 21, from Kiln, Miss; Jose Maldonado, 36, from Magnolia, Texas; Robert Conklin Jr., 37, from Montegut; John Mejia, 44, from Golden Meadow; Ronald Silva Jr., 26, from Chalmette; and Bryan Davis, 39, from Ponchatoula were cited for unlawfully taking oysters from state water bottoms. 

Agents seized and returned over 2500 sacks of oysters to the water bottom.  The vessels and dredges were placed under the department’s seizure order pending the court case.

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.  For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents participating in the case were Lt. Eddie Skena, Sgts. Bryan Marie and Kris Bourgeous, Senior Agents Mike Garrity, Villere Regio, Robert Cosse and Gary Pierce.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested a Vermilion Parish resident for allegedly driving while intoxicated (DWI) along with several boating and fisheries violations on Sept. 20.

Chad A. Leblanc, 39, of Erath, was arrested after agents tried to conduct a routine boating safety inspection of his vessel.  Leblanc with his seven-year-old son onboard ignored the agents as they tried to stop his vessel as he traveled down the Delcambre Canal.  As he drove away from the agents, he started tossing undersized red drum from his ice chest into the water.  The agents caught up with Leblanc and the floating red drum after a brief pursuit and seized the remainder of his undersized catch. 

Upon making contact with Leblanc, the agents suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.  They conducted field sobriety tests on Leblanc and then arrested and booked him into the Iberia Parish Jail.

He was cited for second offense DWI, child endangerment, intentionally destroying or disposing of fish evidence, possession of undersized black drum, possession of undersized red drum, and for failure to have a personal flotation device (PFD) on a person less than 13 years of age.

The penalty for second conviction DWI involving child endangerment is imprisonment for a period of 30 days to six months and a fine between $750 to $1,000.  Since a minor under 12 years of age was a passenger in the vessel at the time of occurrence, the court imposes that the execution of the minimum mandatory sentence shall not be suspended.  

The penalty for intentionally destroying or disposing of fish evidence is $900 to $950, or jail time up to 120 days, or both plus court costs and the forfeiture of anything seized.

The penalty for possession of undersized black drum is $100 to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  

The penalty for possession of undersized red drum is $100 to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.

The penalty for failure to have a PFD on a person less than 13 years of age is a $50 fine, or jail time up to 15 days or both.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents David Boudreaux and Ryan Faul.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Agents arrested two more subjects for alleged criminal damage to state property in Iberia Parish.

The arrest stems from an incident on the night of Aug. 22 when five tires on a boat trailer and two tires on a LDWF Enforcement Unit were slashed while agents worked a driving while intoxicated detail at Lake Fausse Pointe in Iberia Parish.  Damage was also done to the passenger side of the vehicle with rocks. 

Video surveillance cameras at the scene along with eyewitnesses helped agents make two more arrests in connection with the vandalism.  Damage in the amount of more than $1,500 was done to department equipment.

On Aug. 31 LDWF Agents picked up Brodie Richard, 19, of Youngsville on a warrant for criminal damage to state property.  Richard was arrested in Iberia Parish without incident based on his voluntary statement of the events that took place on the Aug. 22.  An additional arrest warrant was served on Sept. 1 in Iberia Parish on Daniel R. Jeoffroy, 46, of Cade.  Jeoffroy was also charged with criminal damage to state property.  On Aug. 27, LDWF Agents arrested Daren John Jeoffroy, 19, of Cade, for criminal damage to state property.

Punishment for criminal damage to state property when the damage amounts between $500 to $50,000 is a fine up to $1,000, or imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to two years or both.  Bond was set for Jeoffroy at  $7,000 and for Richard $5,000.

Agents participating in the case were Senior Agents David Boudreaux and Ryan Faul.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division Agents arrested an Iberia Parish man on Aug. 27 for alleged criminal damage to state property.

The arrest stems from an incident on the night of Aug. 22 when five tires on a boat trailer and two tires on a LDWF Enforcement Unit were slashed while agents worked a driving while intoxicated detail at Lake Fausse Pointe in Iberia Parish. 

Video surveillance cameras at the scene captured Daren John Jeoffroy, 19, of Cade, doing the damage.  Damage in the amount of approximately $1,500 was done to department equipment.

Punishment for criminal damage to state property when the damage amounts between $500 to $50,000 is a fine up to $1,000, or imprisonment with or without hard labor for up to two years or both.  Judge McClelland with the 16th Judicial District Court set Jeoffroy’s bond at $35,000.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Mitch Darby, Senior Agents Jason Romero, David Boudreaux and Ryan Faul.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Gretna man for allegedly taking over the limit and undersized red drum in Plaquemines Parish on Aug. 13.

Bobby Ray Eudy, 55, was cited after agents found him in possession of 47 red drum in the Jefferson Lake Canal boat launch located in West Pointe A La Hache.  All of the red drum measured under the legal size limit of 16 inches.  All of the fish were seized and later donated in accordance with department policy.

The penalty for the take or possession of undersized red drum is a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  In addition to the penalties, a fine of $25 per fish under 16 inches and revocation of any and all fishing licenses for one to three years may also be assessed. 

The take or possession of over the limit of red drum is punishable by a fine up to $350, or jail time up to 60 days, or both plus court costs.  A fine of $25 per fish over the limit payable to LDWF may also be assessed.

Mr. Eudy was also issued a civil restitution citation for the value of the illegally taken red drum.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Adam Young, and Senior Agent Villere Reggio. 

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents cited three men on Aug. 18 for alleged oyster violations in Bobs Lakes in St. Bernard Parish.

While on patrol in Bobs Lakes, agents saw a vessel being used to dredge oysters on unleased state water bottoms.  Utilizing LDWF’s global positioning satellite equipment, agents determined the vessel to be on unleased state water bottoms where oyster harvest is illegal.

Preston Kieff, 37, Matt Bailey, 22, and Jeffery Ronsonette, 31, all from St. Bernard, were cited for taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms.

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 court costs.

For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents seized and returned 40 sacks of oysters to the water bottom and two oyster dredges in connection with the violation that are being held as evidence until disposition of the case in court.

Agents participating in the case were Sgt. Adam Young, Senior Agents Roy Pier, Jason Gernados, Tim Fox, and Agent Bret Nabors.  Also participating in the case were members of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Division, Capt. Brian Clark and Sgt. Joey Alphonso

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Law Enforcement Division (LDWF/LED) is advising boaters to be aware of new boating regulations that will go into effect on Aug. 15, 2009 including new regulations on personal flotation devices (PFD) also known as life jackets.

The recent legislative session produced some new boating regulations that will affect recreational boaters.  Here is a summary of the new regulations:

_       Anyone 16 years of age or younger, onboard a vessel less than 26 feet, is required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while the vessel is underway. The law previously stated that anyone under 12 was required to wear a PFD.

 
_       Penalties for driving while intoxicated (DWI) now include the suspension or revocation of boating privileges when a person loses driving privileges due to suspension or revocation of their driver's license due to a DWI or DWI refusal whether the offense took place in a vehicle or a watercraft.

_       Beginning July 1, 2010, persons born after Jan. 1, 1984 are required to successfully complete a boating education course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower.  The law previously stated that anyone born after Jan. 1, 1988 was required to complete a course.  Operators born between Jan. 1, 1984 and Dec. 31, 1987 have until July 1, 2010 to complete a course.  

The LDWF/LED also wants to remind boaters to follow the rules of the road, wear a life jacket and designate a sober vessel operator to keep Louisiana’s waterways safe for all boaters.  

For more information on regulations or boating safety, please visit our Web site at www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating.  For more information on boating education courses please visit http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating/courses.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents assigned to the Oyster Strike Force cited 11 men on Aug. 5 for alleged oyster violations in Pumpkin Lake in St. Bernard Parish and American Bay in Plaquemines Parish.

While on patrol in Pumpkin Lake, agents saw a vessel being used to dredge 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.

Jace Michael Sirgo, 30, from Chalmette, and Michael A Barbay, 31, from Violet, were cited for taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms. 

Continuing the patrol to American Bay, agents saw three vessels being used to harvest oysters from unleased state water bottoms.  Jose Luis Carbajal, 42, and Erick Avilal Perez, 26, both from Houma; Williams M. Tarrence, 43, Lenix Gerard Battle, 43, and Sherald Manuel, 32, all from Point A La Hache; Enrique Beiza Torres, 24, from Venezuela; and Ameal Wilson, 57, and Rodvid Wilson, 35, both from Kentwood; and John Dillon, 44, from Magnolia, Miss.; were cited for taking oysters from unleased state water bottoms.

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. 

For any person convicted of this violation, the courts may order that person to only harvest oysters from a vessel that employs a vessel monitoring system for a period of one year.  Access to the monitoring system shall be granted to LDWF.  For that year, the person convicted of these violations shall identify for the department which vessel he will be using to harvest oysters.

Agents seized and returned 35 sacks of oysters to the water bottom.  The vessels and dredges were placed under the department’s seizure order pending the court case.

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