Ten people have been charged in Florida in connection with an illegal fishing operation that poached approximately 23,000 pounds of fish and marine life, authorities announced.
The charges came after a four-year undercover investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Office of Statewide Prosecution. The investigation began in May 2022 when authorities were looking into complaints about reef fish poaching.
Investigators found that the group routinely caught far more red snapper and gag grouper than legally allowed and avoided reporting requirements by selling fish dockside at night, out of their homes, and through on-the-water handoffs. All told, prosecutors say the group sold more than $150,000 worth of fish, shrimp, and turtles illegally.
Three of the defendants—Terry Carrington, Anthony Folsom, and Jordan Neylan—also caught sea turtles, a protected species. They sold five sea turtles to undercover officers, including three adults and two hatchlings.
The charges against the 10 defendants include racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful possession or sale of marine turtles, and cheating. If convicted as charged, sentences could range from 65 to 75 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, depending on the defendant.