Louisiana wildlife enforcement agents have uncovered an elaborate scheme involving falsified commercial crabbing records in Cameron Parish, resulting in citations for five individuals following a lengthy investigation.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents issued citations on April 16 to five residents for allegedly participating in a conspiracy that falsified commercial fishing documentation, known as trip tickets, for nearly 60,000 pounds of crabs.
According to LDWF officials, the investigation revealed that commercial fishermen Edward Naquin, 61, of Grand Chenier, and Francis Theriot, 60, of Lake Charles, were selling crabs to a Grand Chenier dock using falsified paperwork. The scheme allegedly involved recording the catches under names of individuals who didn't actually harvest the crabs.
Throughout the course of the investigation, agents discovered a total of 125 falsified trip tickets that contained 175 falsified daily transactions and 59,834 pounds of illegally documented crabs.
Trip tickets are critical documentation in Louisiana's seafood industry. By law, when commercial fishermen sell their catch to wholesale dealers, both parties must provide and verify accurate information, with copies distributed to the fisherman, dealer, and LDWF.
The investigation led to citations for several individuals, including Selema Frank, 53, of Grand Chenier, who faces charges of injuring public records, filing false public records, criminal conspiracy and failing to maintain records. Similar charges were brought against Wendy Hill, 43, Angela LaBove, 50, and the two commercial fishermen involved.
Failing to complete trip tickets or maintain proper records carries potential fines of $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense. More serious charges like injuring public records or filing false public records can result in fines up to $5,000 and five years imprisonment for each offense.
Lt. Stuart Guillory and Lt. Beau Robertson led the investigation for LDWF enforcement.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.