Local Lobster Poacher Gets 10 Months in Prison
A judge sentenced the longtime Key West fishing guide and firefighter Michael Delph to 10 months in prison and two years on parole.
“From day one I never denied my involvement,” Delph told the court. “I decided to fight it because I’ll lose my job as a fishing guide and a firefighter. I’m very remorseful and I’m sorry for the hardship and humiliation this has brought to my family and my fellow firefighters. It’s a hard pill to swallow. I’ve let a lot of people down and I understand that.”
U.S. Judge Jose Martinez was swift when he finally handed down the sentence, far less than the maximum five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines Delph faced. Martinez did not impose any fines. “Mr. Delph, when I came into this courthouse today, my intention was to give you the upper sentencing guidelines,” Martinez said. “You have some very good friends and a good family, and family is always those that suffer the most. You seem to have led a good life and I’m sorry you are in this situation.”
Beware Lobster Mobsters
The judge said, “In this community, people need to know that if they do this and get caught, they’re going to be sorry.”
Also convicted in Operation Freezer Burn, after pleading guilty, were John R. Niles of LaBelle, who testified against Delph and was given one year of probation, Robert Hammer of Key West and Sean Reyngoudt of Summerland Key. The latter two are scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 in Miami. The ringleaders, David and Denise Dreifort of Cudjoe Key, are scheduled to be sentenced on July 17 in Miami.
The undercover federal sting caught them harvesting about 1,700 lobsters that had congregated in illegal artificial reefs, called casitas. The government said in court that the Dreiforts had put as many as 700 casitas in Keys waters.
Tags: Lobster 2009
Related posts
2 Responses to “Local Lobster Poacher Gets 10 Months in Prison”
 Comment by clayton william August 11th, 2009 at 6:20 am |
i want to buy 2 dozen fresh caught florida lobsters. i live in coral gables, where should i go? |
 Comment by Bob E Sherman January 26th, 2010 at 2:01 pm |
It’s no wonder we haven’t caught Bin Laden |