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FWC nabs unlicensed boat captain on
multiple charges
May 8, 2007
Contact: Karen Parker (386) 758-0525
An undercover investigation by the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) resulted in charging
a Lakeland, Ga. man April 25 for multiple marine resource law
violations in Taylor County.
Johnny Browning, 58, was charged with four
counts of no commercial vessel registration, three counts of no
Saltwater Products License, three counts of speckled sea trout
bag limit violations, three counts of speckled sea trout
commercial harvest without a Restricted Species Endorsement and
two counts of out-of-season commercial harvest of speckled sea
trout.
Browning also did not have a U.S. Coast Guard
captain’s license to carry passengers for hire. Evidence of the
captain’s license violation will be forwarded to the Coast Guard
for civil prosecution. In addition, he didn’t have a state
vessel charter fishing permit, which is a civil violation.
FWC patrol officers had received anonymous tips
about an individual operating out of the Spring Warrior Fish
Camp and conducting fishing charters without proper licenses to
carry passengers for hire. Officers also had reports Browning
regularly violated the daily bag limit of speckled sea trout by
making multiple trips and that he sold his catch in Georgia. FWC
investigators are following up on that information.
Undercover investigators posed as out-of-town
fishermen and hired Browning for several fishing trips that
produced evidence of licensing violations and resource crimes.
During the trips, Browning also confirmed he took fish caught
during the Florida charters and sold them in Georgia.
The violations range from civil infractions to
first-degree misdemeanors. The violations related to the sea
trout and Saltwater Products License are considered “major
violations” by Florida Statutes and may result in additional
civil penalties and loss of fishing privileges in Florida.
Lt. Ken Avinon, an FWC investigations
supervisor, and Lt. Bruce Cooper, the FWC patrol squad
supervisor, summed up the importance of this case by saying,
“Through the teamwork of concerned Florida outdoorsmen and FWC
patrol officers and investigators, we were able to hold a
suspected poacher accountable for profiting from abuse of our
natural resources. We also were able to help protect the
integrity of our legitimate charter guides and commercial
fishermen and the safety of their customers.” |
