Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited two men for alleged illegal shrimping and three men for alleged burglary in two separate cases on July 9 and July 10 in Terrebonne Parish.
Agents cited Shawn T. Tran, 30, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Dung T. Hong, 48, of New Orleans, for using skimmer nets during a closed season. Agents along with Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies also arrested Devin Fanguy, John Fanguy, and Elliot Fanguy all of Dulac, for simple burglary.
On July 9 at approximately 5 p.m. LDWF agents received a complaint about closed season shrimping in Caillou Boca. Agents arrived on scene and observed a commercial shrimping vessel actively shrimping 3,671 feet inside the closed waters line.
Agents made contact with Tran and Hong on the vessel and seized 1,713 pounds of shrimp that were sold at the dock.
While escorting the vessel back to the dock agents came across a small vessel with no navigational lights at 12:50 a.m. on July 10. Agents made contact with the three men on the vessel and noticed they were transporting a 40 inch flat screen TV, 5,000 KW generator, fishing poles, a .22 rifle, electric wench among other items. Agents suspected the items were stolen and contacted the TPSO.
The TPSO confirmed the items were stolen and the men were booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail. Agents also cited Devin Fanguy for improper running lights, failing to comply with personal flotation device requirements, failing to display a valid boat registration decal and was also arrested for outstanding warrants.
The TPSO is currently investigating these three men to determine if they possess other stolen items reported from the fishing camps in the area.
LDWF agents participating in these cases are Senior Agents Ryan Breaux, Stephen Rhodes, and Sgt. Richard Purvis.
Burglary brings up to a $2,000 fine and 12 years in jail. Using skimmers during a closed shrimp season carries up to a $950 fine and 120 days in jail and forfeiture of anything seized. Improper running lights, failing to comply with personal flotation device requirements and failing to display a valid decal all bring up to a $50 fine and 15 days in jail.
Tran and Hong could also have their gear licenses revoked by the department for up to one year. The violators could also be sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service and only be allowed to harvest shrimp from a vessel with a vessel monitoring device for up to one year.