Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents arrested a Leesville man for allegedly committing fraud against the Toledo Bend Lake Association (TBLA) Lunker Bass Program.

Agents arrested Jody K. Jeane, 40, of Leesville, for attempted theft and forgery and booked him into the Vernon Parish Detention Center. He was later transported to the Sabine Parish Detention Center.

On March 15 around 7:30 a.m., agents arrived to the Hickory Ridge boat launch on Vernon Lake to conduct a routine patrol. Agents observed two men loading a bass boat onto a trailer and one of the men offered to show the agents a 12 pound bass that was caught that morning.

The man, later identified as Jeane, showed the agents the bass and said it was his personal best and he was going to have it mounted. Agents noted the bass had a distinct bloody marking on its tail, indicating spawning activity and providing a unique identifying characteristic.

On March 16, agents saw Jeane posing with the bass in a social media post from the TBLA Lunker Bass Program. The Lunker Bass Program awards anglers who catch bass weighing 10 pounds or more in Toledo Bend Lake with a fiberglass replica at no cost provided the fish is presented live at a certified weigh station, documented, and released back into the lake.

The social media photo also showed Jeane wearing the same clothing observed during his Vernon Lake encounter with the agents. The fish’s distinctive tail markings were also clearly visible.

Following coordination with TBLA personnel, agents learned that participants must sign official documentation verifying the location, date, and time of the catch and declaring the fish was legally caught in Toledo Bend Reservoir.

Based on the evidence gathered from the investigation, LDWF agents obtained an arrest warrant through the 11th Judicial District Court for attempted theft and forgery. On April 1, agents met with Jeane at the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office where he admitted to catching the fish in Vernon Lake.

Attempted theft brings up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail. Forgery carries up to a $5,000 fine and 10 years in jail.

Agents involved in this case are Sgt. Harvey K. Pearce, Corporal Dustin Nash and Senior Agent Callie Pitre.