Fish and Wildlife Officers Find Illegal Immigrants Caught Violating Louisiana Fishing Laws

Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife (LDWF) law enforcement officers cited six individuals for alleged violations of fishing regulations in Plaquemines Parish on June 25. Officers cited Encarnacion Lopez, 33, of Chalmette, and Juan Lopez, 39, Oscar Ofion, 30, Armando Aguilar, 45, Yony Martinez, 27, and Mario Castro, 46, five of whom are illegal immigrants, for possession of red snapper over the permitted limit and possession of undersized red snapper.

Aguilar, Ofion, Castro, Juan Lopez and Martinez were also cited for not having a marine landing permit. Ofion, Martinez and Castro were also cited for fishing in saltwater without a nonresident saltwater fishing license. Martinez and Castro were also cited for fishing without a nonresident basic fishing license. The vessel’s captain, Juan Lopez, was also cited for not having a fire extinguisher, failing to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) requirements and having incorrect boat numbers.

Officers were patrolling the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish when they observed a 20-foot boat with six occupants heading north on the river. Officers stopped the vessel to conduct a boating and fishing safety inspection.

During the inspection, agents found the men in possession of 120 Red Snappers, 97 of which were small. The recreational red snapper season began April 15 in state and federal waters with a daily bag limit of four fish per person and a minimum size limit of 16 inches total length.

“This case highlights the many challenges we face due to the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border and illustrates how our state’s resources are stretched by the consequences of a failed immigration policy. Protecting and managing our wildlife is critical to keeping Louisiana a sportsman’s paradise,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “Thank you to Secretary Sheahan and these LDWF officers for protecting Louisiana’s fisheries and ensuring law and order are upheld.”

“I am proud of Corporal Landry, Agent Wiles, and Agent Smith for their hard work on this case,” said LDWF Secretary Madison Sheahan. “It is a priority for our department to enforce regulations designed to conserve and protect our fisheries for Louisiana sportsmen. We want to thank Governor Landry for his continued efforts to address the Biden Administration’s abject failure of border policies.”

Possession of an over-the-limit Red Snapper and an undersized Red Snapper carries a fine of up to $350 for each offense. Fishing without possessing a nonresident basic fishing and saltwater fishing license also carries a fine of up to $350 for each violation. Failure to possess a recreational sea landing permit, incorrect boat numbers, failure to possess a fire extinguisher, and failure to comply with PFD requirements results in a fine of up to $50 for each violation .

The interested parties also face civil restitution totaling $3,098 for the Red Snapper.

Officers seized all of the fish and donated them to the Second Harvest Food Bank on behalf of Hunters for the Hungry Louisiana.

This investigation is still ongoing and further charges may be pending.

The officers involved in the case are Corporal Austin Landry, Officer Austin Wiles and Officer Brett Smith.