Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited a Lafitte man for alleged crabbing violations on Nov. 15 in Jefferson Parish.

Agents cited Chadwick Martin, 30, for crabbing without a commercial gear license and filing false public records.

Agents began an investigation into Martin because he was a sponsor in the Louisiana Fisheries Forward Commercial Crab Gear Requirements program without possessing the required commercial crab trap gear license.

During the investigation, agents learned that Marin did not possess a crab trap gear license for the years of 2023 and 2024.

Agents also found that Martin sponsored an apprentice through the Crab Gear Requirements program from July 24, 2023 to July 23, 2024 without possessing an active crab trap gear license. Agents learned that Chadwick falsified his Louisiana Fisheries Forward Commercial Crab Gear Requirements Application in order to become a sponsor in the crab apprenticeship program.

Agents made contact with Martin and he admitted to filing the application with LDWF and crab fishing during 2023 and 2024. He also admitted to sponsoring a subject through the crab apprenticeship program.

Agents found that Martin harvested 38,700 pounds of blue crabs illegally during 2023 and 2024.

Fishing without a commercial gear license brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail. Filing false public records carries up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail.

Martin will also face civil restitution totaling $77,400 for the illegally taken crabs.

Agents participating in this case are Lt. Gerald Sander and Senior Agent Cody Salpietra.