Florida agency's undercover gator farm leads to 9 arrests

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Brendan Farrington, Associated Press

Updated 6:36 pm, Wednesday, May 24, 2017



TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Thousands of illegally harvested alligator eggs and several illegal alligator hunts were discovered by undercover officers working in a fully functional alligator farm set up by Florida's wildlife agency, leading to the arrest Wednesday of nine men on 44 felony charges.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation commission began setting up the undercover operation four years ago in an effort to track down unpermitted alligator and alligator egg sales. The agency leased land in rural Arcadia in southwest Florida, bought equipment and alligators and ran the Sunshine Alligator Farm using two undercover officers who set up residence on the property.

The officers would go to trade shows and began forming relationships with others in the tightly regulated industry.

. . .

In a third case, an alligator farm owner and hunting guide was charged with three felony counts of illegal possession of alligators and a felony count of killing a white Ibis. One of the officers saw alligators at Wayne Nichols' newly established farm and paperwork later revealed had not legally harvested them. Nichols captured a nearly 9-foot-long alligator, hooked it by the mouth and then tied it to a stake until he could text a client who paid $2,000 to kill it, according to an affidavit.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Florida-agency-s-undercover-gator-farm-leads-to-9-11171374.php

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9 Florida residents accused of illegally harvesting alligators, eggs
State authorities pose as alligator farmers to catch suspects

By Peter Burke – Local10.com Managing Editor
Posted: 3:44 PM, May 24, 2017
Updated: 4:10 PM, May 24, 2017



ARCADIA, Fla. – Nine Florida residents have been arrested on suspicion of illegally harvesting alligators and their eggs, WPLG reports.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Office of Statewide Prosecution announced the arrests Wednesday.

. . .

Authorities said some of the suspects took undercover officers on alligator hunts, illegally catching and selling the reptiles.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/florida/9-florida-residents-accused-of-illegally-harvesting-alligators-eggs

(Photos of 4 of the men at link.)

[Egnever]

1. Odd

I thought Florida had too many Gators already or are these tools in trouble for breeding more?

[FLPanhandle]

3. Florida doesn't have too many Gators

Florida has too many people and not enough natural habitat for it's native species.

While Gators have made a great comeback from nearly being wiped by hunters, illegal hunting and destruction of nests can just as quickly repeat the mistakes of the past.

[DFW]

2. One can't help but wonder what makes these people tick

"Nichols captured a nearly 9-foot-long alligator, hooked it by the mouth and then tied it to a stake until he could text a client who paid $2,000 to kill it, according to an affidavit."

How perverse can you get?

On second thought, please don't answer that.