![\"Loggerhead](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/shutterstock_2004498869.jpg\")
A loggerhead sea turtle returns to the Gulf of Mexico in South Florida. Credit: Danita Delimont\/Shutterstock<\/p>\nA loggerhead sea turtle returns to the Gulf of Mexico in South Florida. Credit: Danita Delimont\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n
State officials announced criminal charges Monday against 10 individuals in an alleged poaching conspiracy involving overfishing of reef fish including grouper, redfish, and snapper, plus protected sea turtles, including hatchlings.<\/p>\n
The arrests followed an investigation that began in 2022, when a party to the alleged scheme approached an undercover officer, Attorney General James Uthmeier said during a news conference in Carrabelle.<\/p>\n
Participating agencies included the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Office of Statewide Prosecutor, and local law enforcement.<\/p>\n
The suspects are from an area stretching from Florida\u2019s Big Bend region to Tampa Bay, according to authorities. The haul allegedly ran to approximately 23,000 pounds of fish and sales totaled more than $150,000 worth of fish, shrimp, and turtles. That harmed legitimate commercial and recreational fishermen, law enforcement said.<\/p>\n
The more serious charges include racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, and unlawful possession or sale of marine turtles. Potential sentences on these charges range between 65 and 75 years, Uthmeier\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n
Still, Uthmeier said he plans to ask the Legislature to boost penalties for poaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the poaching laws on the books today are just misdemeanors. Yes, people trespassing, having firearms on private land, there\u2019s going to be other crimes involved,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if you\u2019re bringing a rifle out and you\u2019re shooting near a dwelling where families are living, illegally poaching at night, you need to be charged with a third-degree felony. If you\u2019re in close proximity to people, you need to be looking at more than five years behind bars, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
The matter \u201cstarted as something that seemed like a much more minor offense \u2014 just some small-scale poaching of some reef fish. And then, all of a sudden, you realize it\u2019s more than just a couple of actors here \u2014 you\u2019ve got over a dozen people engaged in a statewide network to sell the harvest illegally, violating multiple state laws up and down much of North Florida,\u201d Uthmeier said.<\/p>\n
Appointed to his office by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2025, Uthmeier is seeking election in his own right against Democratic former state Sen. Jos\u00e9 Jav\u00cder Rodriguez.<\/p>\n
Florida Phoenix<\/a> is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n