Suspect’s boat, motor and trailer plus 46 crab traps and fraudulent commercial fishing licenses seized, release says
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents arrested Robby Joe Wiley, 38, of DeRidder in connection with an investigation into stolen crab traps on Calcasieu Lake last week.
According to a press release, Wiley was arrested for illegal possession of stolen things, taking commercial fish without a commercial gear license, taking or possessing commercial fish without a vessel license, using crab traps without required markings, violating crab trap escape ring requirements, taking commercial fish without a commercial license and improper boat numbers.
Wiley was booked into the Cameron Parish Jail, the release states.
After a complaint from a fisherman who reported stolen crab traps, agents discovered several traps in Calcasieu Lake that were tagged with two commercial fishing numbers. One of the numbers belonged to the victim complaining of stolen traps, and the other number belonged to Wiley, according to LDWF. WIley allegedly replaced the victim’s lines and corks with his own.
When agents went back to check the traps with Wiley’s corks, they seized the traps with two commercial fishing numbers on them and in the course of the investigation, encountered Wiley himself. He identified the seized traps as his own, and agents discovered he was fishing commercially under another person’s commercial fishing license and possessed no commercial licenses of his own, the release states.
Additionally, agents discovered that several traps were not tagged and that some traps did not have escape rings, according to the release.
Possession of stolen thing things brings up to a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail. Using crab traps without the required markings and violating crap trap escape ring requirements each carries up to a $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. Taking commercial fish without a commercial gear license, without a vessel license or without a commercial license each carries up to a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Improper boat numbers brings a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail, the release states.
