FWC uncovers major fish and wildlife violations in long-term undercover investigation 

Aug. 9, 2019

Photos available on the FWC’s Flickr site: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFXYaM8

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FWC uncovers major fish and wildlife violations in long-term undercover investigation 

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigation led to the arrests on Friday, Aug. 9, of three suspects in Levy and Pinellas counties for violating state laws pertaining to illegally harvesting and selling various fish and wildlife. Fifteen additional suspects were served with notice to appear citations in Levy, Orange, Pinellas and Broward counties.

As part of a long-term investigation initiated in May 2017, FWC investigators managed to engage with this group of associates to gain information and evidence. The suspects were taking deer out of season, alligators without licenses and permits, and protected gopher tortoises. During a closure in response to red tide, they illegally took snook, jeopardizing the fishery’s recovery.  

“Organized criminal operations like this pose serious environmental and economic consequences,” said Col. Curtis Brown, head of FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “They damage our precious natural resources and create black markets that undermine the legal process. We do our best to put a stop to these crimes, supporting law-abiding business owners, landowners and those who enjoy recreating in Florida.”

“Many Floridians make their living in and around Florida’s waters, and when a group of individuals disregard the conservation efforts of so many, it’s encouraging to see the FWC and agency partners work hard to bring those individuals to justice,” said JD Dickenson, Coastal Conservation Association Florida chairman. “CCA Florida is proud of the hard work that FWC officers do in protecting the resources that we all enjoy.”

 “As an advocate for sportsmen's groups in Florida, I applaud FWC law enforcement for its efforts to protect our resources," said Lane Stephens, a long-time lobbyist for hunting and fishing organizations in Florida.

There are still aspects of this investigation that are ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

The public can also help by reporting suspected violations to the FWC. Call the Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or text or email to Tip@MyFWC.com.

The suspects and their charges are as follows:

James Alexander Smith
DOB 06/03/1956 

CHARGE 1:  Unlawful sale of deer
                      F.S. 379.404(5) - 3rd Degree Felony

CHARGE 2:  Taking/Possession of deer during the closed season
                      F.S. 379.404(3) – 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: Unlawful sale of deer
                      F.S. 379.401(2)(a) / F.A. C. 68A-12.004(1) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4: Illegal take/possession of American alligator
                     F.S. 379.409(1) – 3^rd Degree Felony

CHARGE 5: Unlawful sale of American alligator
                      F.S. 379.401(2)(a) / F.A. C. 68A-25.002(1) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 6:  Unlawful sale of deer
                      F.S. 379.404(5) – 3^rd Degree Felony

CHARGE 7:  Taking/Possession of deer during the closed season
                      FS 379.404(3) – 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 8:  Unlawful sale of deer
                      F.S. 379.404(5) – 3^rd Degree Felony 

Sherod Christopher Strawder
DOB 05/05/1968 

CHARGE 1:  Possession of snook three fish or more in excess of the daily bag limit
                      F.S. 379.407(4)(a)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Sale of saltwater product without a saltwater products license
                     F.S. 379.361(2)(a) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3:  Sale of snook
                      F.A.C. 68B-21.007(1) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4:  Possession of over the bag limit of snook
                      F.A.C. 68A-21.004(1)(b) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 5:  Possession of snook during closed season
                      F.A.C. 68B-21.005(2)(b) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 6:  Harvest or possession of snook for commercial purposes
                      68B-21.004(2) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 7: Possession of oversize/undersize snook Gulf Region
                     68B-21.003(b) – 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Aaronnette Jermeshal Shytresa Lee
DOB 5/28/1991 

CHARGE 1:  Possession of a short-barreled shotgun
                      FS 790.221(1) – 2^nd Degree Felony 

The following individuals were issued Notice to Appear citations on Aug. 9, 2019:

Illie McIntosh Jr.
DOB 04/04/1955  

CHARGE 1: Unlawful purchase of saltwater product by dealer or restaurant from other than licensed dealer
                      F.S. 379.362(8)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: No saltwater retail license
                     F.S. 379.361(2)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish
                    68A-23.009(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish
                    68A-23.009(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Darryl Sherod James
DOB 10/26/1961 

CHARGE 1: Unlawful purchase of alligator
                    68A-25.002(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Unlawful purchase of alligator
                    68A-25.002(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Emmitt Laurent Brown
DOB 01/16/1980 

CHARGE 1: Unlawful purchase of freshwater game fish
                      68A-23.009(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Unlawful purchase of alligator
                     68A-25.002(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Tej Prakash Bhojnauth
DOB 03/21/1965 

CHARGE 1: Possession of deer out of season
                     F.S. 379.404(1)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Possession of deer out of season
                     F.S. 379.404(1)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: Unlawful purchase of snook
                     68B-21.007(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Kumar Persaud Naurang
DOB 01/03/1960 

CHARGE 1: Illegal purchase of deer
                     F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Possession of deer out of season
                     F.S. 379.404(1)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor 

Somal Persaud Haimdas
DOB 09/10/1965         

CHARGE 1: Possession of deer out of season
                     F.S. 379.404(1)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor 

Larry Kenson Charlery
DOB 01/11/1989 

CHARGE 1: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: No retail license
                     F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: Major violation- no saltwater products license
                     F.S. 379.407(7)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4: Illegal purchase of deer
                     F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Seeraj Bire
DOB 05/04/1975

CHARGE 1: Illegal purchase of turkey
                    F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Illegal purchase of deer
                    F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: Illegal purchase of deer
                    F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4: Illegal sale of deer
                    F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (7)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 5: Possession of deer out of season
                     F.S. 379.404(1)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor 

Robert Jonathan Cresser
DOB 02/24/1972 

CHARGE 1: Illegal purchase of deer
                    F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Narrad Persaud
DOB 03/15/1944 

CHARGE 1: Illegal purchase of deer
                     F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68A-12.004 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Suraj Persaud
DOB 09/12/1975 

CHARGE 1: Unlawful purchase of snook
                     68B-21.007(1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Michael Antonio Smith
DOB 09/26/1971 

CHARGE 1: No saltwater products license
                     F.S. 379.361(2)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Unlawful purchase of saltwater product by dealer or restaurant from other than licensed dealer
                     F.S. 379.362(8)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3:  Major violation- no saltwater products license
                     F.S. 379.407(7)- 2nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Joe Earl Rowe
DOB 08/07/1956 

CHARGE 1: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 4: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 5: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 6: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 7: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 8: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 9: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 10: No saltwater products license
                      F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 11: No retail license
                      F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 12: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 13: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 14: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 15: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 16: No retail license
                      F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 17: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 18: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 19: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 20: No retail license
                       F.S. 379.362(2)(g)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 21: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1)-  2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 22: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1) - 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 23: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1) - 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 24: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1) - 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 25: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1) - 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 26: Possession of undersize sheepshead
                       F.S. 379.401(2)(a) & 68B-59.003(1) - 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 27: Major violation- no saltwater products license 2^nd violation
                       F.S. 379.407(7)- 1^st Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 28: No freshwater dealer license
                       F.S. 379.363(1)(b)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 29: No freshwater dealer license
                       F.S. 379.363(1)(b)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor 

Konstantinos P. Apergis
DOB 07/07/1947 

CHARGE 1: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: No saltwater products license
                    F.S. 379.361(2)(a)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 3:  Major violation- no saltwater products license
                     F.S. 379.407(7)- 2nd Degree Misdemeanor

 

George Louis McBride
DOB 06/15/1955 

CHARGE 1: Unlawful sale of freshwater game fish
                    68A-23.009 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor

CHARGE 2: Unlawful sale of freshwater game fish
                    68A-23.009 (1)- 2^nd Degree Misdemeanor