LDWF Agents Cite Three Subjects for Illegal Seafood Sales

Baton Rouge, Aug 31, 2026 - Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agents cited three subjects on July 21 for alleged illegal seafood sales in south Louisiana.

Agents cited Ana Reyna Beiza Lopez, 46, and Juan Rebollar Aguilar, 42, both of Houma, for the following:

• exporting crab or crab products without a wholesale/retail crab shipping license,
• commercial fisherman selling to consumers without a fresh product license,
• violating interstate commerce regulations,
• selling or buying fish without a wholesale retail license,
• failing to maintain records,
• possession of untagged or improperly tagged oysters,
• monthly returns to the department by wholesale/retail dealer,
• taking spotted seatrout without a permit,
• taking exotic fish from public waters (apple snails),
• selling/purchasing or attempting to sell/purchase undersized fish.

Agents also cited Lopez for selling or purchasing game fish. Aguilar was also cited for conspiracy, processing marine product without a permit or in an unapproved facility, failing to tag sacked or containerized oysters, failing to maintain trip tickets (fisherman), and failing to maintain traceable oyster records (containerized).

Agents also cited Izhar Rebollar-Beiza, 24, of Houma, for computer fraud and filing false public records.

Agents began an investigation about the illegal sale of raw seafood throughout southern Louisiana, primarily in Terrebonne Parish. These illegal seafood sales were mostly advertised through social media platforms.

As a result of the investigation, Lopez and Aguilar were charged with multiple violations related to the illegal sale of oysters, blue crabs, and various species of raw fish. Agents also determined that seafood was being unlawfully transported from Louisiana to North Carolina on a monthly basis, where it was subsequently sold in violation of state laws.

Additionally, agents discovered that Aguilar and Rebollar-Beiza had illegally produced certificates for the Best Practices for Oyster Harvester Course. This course is intended to provide training for oyster harvesters. The fraudulent certificates undermined the integrity of the required training and certification process.

Exporting crab or crab product without a wholesale/retail crab shipping license, commercial fisherman selling to consumer without a fresh product license, selling or buying fish without a wholesale retail license, failing to maintain records, possession of untagged or improperly tagged oysters, monthly returns to the department by wholesale/retail dealer, selling/purchasing or attempting to sell/purchase undersized fish, failing to tag sacked or containerized oysters, failing to maintain trip tickets, and failing to maintain traceable oyster records brings a $250 to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for each offense.

Violating interstate commerce regulations and taking spotted seatrout without a permit brings a $900 to $950 fine and up to 120 days in jail for each offense. Selling or purchasing game fish carries a $350 to $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

Taking exotic fish from public waters carries up to a $50 fine. The penalty for criminal conspiracy is a fine, imprisonment, or both, in accordance with the penalty prescribed for the offense the conspirators intended to commit. Computer fraud carries up to a $10,000 fine and five years in jail. Filing false public records brings up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail.

Lopez and Aguilar will also face civil restitution totaling $1,615.

Agents participating in this case are Senior Agent Joel Rubio, Senior Agent Carl Reed and Lt. Gerald Sander.