Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that 10 people are facing charges as a result of the years-long investigation.
FLORIDA, USA — Three Tampa Bay-area residents have been charged in connection with an illegal commercial fishing operation involving reef fish poaching along the Gulf Coast, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday.
Uthmeier said the undercover investigation began in May 2022 as a joint effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Office of Statewide Prosecution. One of the suspects reportedly approached an investigator about buying illegally caught fish.
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Investigators say the group often caught far more red snapper and gag grouper than the FWC allows. Participants also reportedly dodged reporting requirements by selling fish at night either at dockside, out of their homes or through on-the-water handoffs.
Ten people are facing charges relating to this illegal fishing and poaching operation, the attorney general says. The group, most of whom are from Franklin County, is accused of poaching about 23,000 pounds of fish and illegally selling more than $150,000 worth of fish, shrimp, and turtles.
“We plan to leave Florida better to God than how we found it, and poachers abusing our natural resources will be prosecuted to the fullest extent,” Uthmeier said in a news release. “Those who abuse our waters and wildlife will find out how tough our laws are.”
Among those charged are residents from Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties:
Kayla Ann Boak, 36, of Bradenton is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and cheating
Joe Frank Tessa III, 44, of Largo is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and cheating
Curtis Randolph Morse, 45, of Gibsonton is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, unlawful possession or sale of marine turtles and cheating
A few others involved also caught sea turtles and sold five of them, including three adults and two hatchlings, to undercover officers.
“These are not fishing tickets. They are felony charges, including racketeering,” Uthmeier wrote on X.
Uthmeier said the maximum sentence in the Florida Department of Corrections is 65 years for Boak and Morse. Tessa could face up to 70 years.
“Florida’s fisheries belong to all of us, and the rules exist to protect these resources and the fishermen who play by them,” said Rodney Barreto, FWC chairman, in a news release. “I’m proud of the hard work and dedication of our undercover officers over the past four years. We need thorough enforcement, accurate reporting, and accountability to ensure Florida’s fisheries remain healthy and sustainable for everyone.”
PHOTOS: Rescued sea turtles from illegal poaching operation
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Officials urge anyone who spots wildlife violations to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 880404-3922 or report online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.