More Lower Keys Lobster Mobsters Arrested
Federal authorities arrested two Lower Keys commercial lobster divers Friday on charges of illegally harvesting more than 1,000 pounds of lobster worth at least $17,000.
John Buckheim and Nick Demauro, of 79 Palm Drive in the Saddlebunch Keys, were arrested by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration law enforcement agents. The pair are accused of sinking a boat to create an artificial habitat, known as a casita, south of Sammy’s Creek Bridge on Sugarloaf Key on Oct. 29, 2008, according to a federal indictment.
Prosecutors allege the poaching began in 2008 and continued into this year, reports say.
Both men are scheduled to appear in a Miami courthouse today.
The arrest comes a week before the start of the commercial lobster season.
Tags: Lobster, Lobster 2009