LDWF allegedly sold fish to suspect.
State enforcement agents arrested a St. James man yesterday (April 4) for allegedly buying and selling game fish and wildlife, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reported.
Roy Folse, 66, was arrested and booked into the St. James Parish Prison after LDWF agents executed a search warrant of his residence, the agency said.LDWF undercover agents have investigated Folse since 2007 when they allegedly first sold him two red snapper, the agency said. Over the course of the investigation, undercover agents allegedly sold and purchased game fish and wildlife from Folse or witnessed Folse selling or purchasing game fish and wildlife in St. James, Ascension, Iberville and St. John parishes.
Undercover agents allegedly sold Folse over 1,800 crappie and 84 bowfin, the LDWF said. Undercover agents also allegedly witnessed Folse purchase 130 pounds of deer sausage and three deer hindquarters and sell over 1,000 crappie, 74 bowfin and two deer hindquarters, the agency reported.
Future charges are also pending against Folse and his associates from which he bought or sold game fish and wildlife, LDWF said.
Agents charged Folse with 55 citations for crimes committed between March of 2010 to January of 2012 in the following parishes:
• St. James Parish — 13 counts of purchasing game fish, 12 counts of selling game fish, one count of selling fish without a wholesale/retail license, one count of transporting fish without the required license, one count of failing to maintain records, one count of taking commercial fish without a commercial license and one count of taking commercial fish without a gear license.
• Iberville Parish — four counts of purchasing deer meat, two counts of selling deer meat, two counts of transporting fish without the required license, two counts of buying fish without a wholesale/retail license and two counts of failing to maintain records.
• Ascension Parish — two counts of buying fish without a wholesale/retail license, two counts of failing to maintain records, two counts of transporting fish without the required license, one count of selling deer meat and one count of selling game fish.
• St. John Parish — one count of buying fish without a wholesale/retail license, one count of maintaining records and one count of transporting fish without the required license.
Selling and purchasing game fish brings a $350 to $500 fine and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Second offense carries a $500 to $1,000 fine and 60 days in jail. For each subsequent offense, Folse faces up to a $1,000 to $2,000 fine and 90 days in jail.
Selling and purchasing deer meat brings a $500 to $750 fine and up to 30 days in jail for the first offense. For all subsequent offenses, Folse faces a $750 to $1,000 fine and up to 120 days in jail.
Taking game fish illegally brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 180 days in jail.
Selling fish without a wholesale/retail license, failing to maintain records, transporting fish without the required license, taking commercial fish without a commercial license or gear license each bring a fine between $250 and $500 and up to 90 days in jail. A second offense carries a $500 to $800 fine and up to 120 days in jail. All subsequent offenses bring a $750 to $1,000 fine and up to 120 days in jail.
