Ricordea Bust FL Keys

[PeterIMA]

MONROE COUNTY
A local fisherman pleaded guilty to a federal Lacey Act violation of illegally harvesting and selling Ricordia florida, a type of coral, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The cost to remediate the damage caused by removing the coral from the seabed will exceed $78,000. At sentencing, the defendant will be ordered to forfeit his 1969, 34’ Morgan sailing vessel. Investigator David McDaniel, National Marine Fisheries Agent Kenneth Blackburn, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanographic Administration Legal Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigated the case

 

[bobimport]

Alex got 10 mo in the slammer.

 

[Anonymous]

What about the others?

 

[121]

bobimport

Typo

 

[spawner]

FWC let him sell his license for 30K. Great system down there.

 

[bobimport]

Nope he got $17,500

 

[Anonymous]

How do you not get stripped of your license when you are a convicted felon?

 

[bobimport]

Well it was a federal conviction. If the state takes action you get into double jeopardy problems if the state punishes him for a federal conviction. The point is that he will not be back.


bob

 

[swsaltwater]

Not that a license matters for what he was doing..........I am sure he will continue to poach later on since much like gun crimes, the criminals don't get licenses.....

 

[bobimport]

nope to many eye's in the keys