BATON ROUGE, LA. (KLFY) — Three individuals have been cited for alleged illegal seafood sales in south Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).
Agents cited Ana Reyna Beiza Lopez, 46, and Juan Rebollar Aguilar, 42, both of Houma, on July 21 for the following:
- exporting crab or crab products without a wholesale/retail crab shipping license,
- commercial fisherman selling to consumers without a fresh product license,
- violating interstate commerce regulations,
- selling or buying fish without a wholesale retail license,
- failing to maintain records,
- possession of untagged or improperly tagged oysters,
- monthly returns to the department by wholesale/retail dealer,
- taking spotted seatrout without a permit,
- taking exotic fish from public waters (apple snails),
- selling/purchasing or attempting to sell/purchase undersized fish.
Agents also reported citing Lopez for selling or purchasing game fish. Aguilar was also cited for conspiracy, processing marine product without a permit or in an unapproved facility, failing to tag sacked or containerized oysters, failing to maintain trip tickets (fisherman), and failing to maintain traceable oyster records (containerized).
Agents also cited Izhar Rebollar-Beiza, 24, of Houma, for computer fraud and filing false public records.
The investigation began about the illegal sale of raw seafood throughout southern Louisiana, primarily in Terrebonne Parish. These illegal seafood sales were mostly advertised through social media platforms, agents said.
As a result of the investigation, Lopez and Aguilar were identified as suspects and charged with multiple violations related to the illegal sale of oysters, blue crabs, and various species of raw fish. Agents also determined that seafood was being unlawfully transported from Louisiana to North Carolina on a monthly basis, where it was subsequently sold in violation of state laws, agents said.
Additionally, agents discovered that Aguilar and Rebollar-Beiza had illegally produced certificates for the Best Practices for Oyster Harvester Course.
Lopez and Aguilar will also face civil restitution totaling $1,615.
