Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited four men for alleged commercial crabbing violations during the last week of August.
Agents arrested Ephie Dupre, 53, of Morgan City, for theft of crabs and using crab traps without required markings on Aug. 22 in St. Mary Parish. Agents seized 94 blue crabs and returned them to the water. Agents booked Dupre into the St. Mary Parish Jail.
On Aug. 23, agents arrested Gerald Brecheen, 63, of Morgan City, for theft of crab traps, theft of crabs, and using crab traps without required markings in St. Mary Parish. Agents seized six crab traps and about six dozen blue crabs, which were returned to the water. Agents booked Brecheen into the St. Mary Parish Jail.
Agents cited Matthew Giroir, 41, of Morgan City, for theft of crab traps and seized one crab trap on Aug. 24 in St. Martin Parish.
On Aug 29 in St. Mary Parish, agents cited John McCloy Jr., 73, of Patterson, for theft of crabs, selling to consumers without a fresh products license, failing to maintain records, and failing to complete trip ticket information.
Using crab traps without the required markings, theft of crab traps and theft of crab each brings a $400 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. Selling to consumers without a fresh products license, failing to complete trip tickets and failing to maintain records each carries a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense.