'Crime Ring' Made Millions Selling Marine Life

Eight members of a crime ring making millions through the sale of contraband shrimp and scallops were arrested Thursday, including six Hernando County residents.

The arrests were the culmination of a six-month operation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, which set up a phony company to attract the suspects' business.

Investigators believe that the suspects have been illicitly dealing in marine life for at least five years and made millions of dollars in the process. In just the six months of the undercover operation, $600,000 worth of peppermint shrimp was sold, according to a FWC news release.

Federal charges may be added to the 24 state law violations faced by the suspects, who reportedly traded in marine life as far away as New York and Amsterdam. More arrests are possible as investigators continue to probe into the organization.

Selling ocean animals without a license happens on occasion, but rarely to this level, said Gary Morse, spokesman for the FWC.

"People in Florida view abuse of natural resources very seriously," he continued. "We view that charge as primary to our mission."

Tips from the public led the FWC to begin its investigation. Detectives set up a fictitious company called "One Tropical Way," complete with fliers, advertisements and business cards to lure in the suspects.

The suspects are described as commercial bait fishermen, although they sold bait shrimp for human consumption. Morse said that poses a health hazard because a strict set of guidelines are in place to keep retail shrimp safe.

It's also alleged that the suspects sold by-catch from their nets, including peppermint shrimp, protected sharks, shark fins, bay scallops and sea horses. State law says fishermen without a saltwater products license must immediately return those species into the water alive.

Gary Violetta, curator of fishes at Seaworld of Orlando, said Thursday that bay scallops were a popular commodity but overfishing and destruction of habitat have made them harder to come by. It's illegal to commercially harvest the scallops, which are in the clam family, anywhere in Florida.

The peppermint shrimp's unique coloration lends them their name, and they are popular additions to saltwater aquariums. The same goes for seahorses, which were once so common they could be bought through ads in the back of comic books, Violetta said.

Now they are "in a state of crisis," Violetta said.

Just as selling endangered marine life is illegal, so is purchasing. Morse said that there were licensed buyers who bought the goods knowing they were illegal.

Among their number is Michael Helmholtz, 49, of 5001 Calienta St., who is charged with purchasing saltwater products from an unlicensed dealer.

Also arrested were Harley and Charity Rodriguez, 29, and 25, respectively. No one answered their door Thursday at 3247 Hibiscus Drive in Hernando Beach.

Neighbor Bill Panzeter said he had no quarrel with the couple, who have two girls under the age of 10. Times have been hard for shrimpers like Harley Rodriguez, who often work 12-hour days and come back empty handed, Panzeter said.

"It's hardly worth the gas," he said.