Marathon Lobster Mobster Jailed for 121 Illegal Lobster

Monroe County Sheriff’s Office marine Deputy Wilfredo Guerra (left) and FWC officer Oliver Adams display the illegal bounty.

More than 100 marine-resource conservation counts were filed against a Marathon man late Monday after law officers surprised a boat making a nocturnal landing.
Jose Carlos Acosta Arias, 37, was carrying a mesh bag with 77 wrung lobster tails when he stepped off a “blacked-out vessel” near the oceanside of 74th Street in Marathon, reported Deputy Wilfredo Guerra of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Oliver Adams of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
A second man aboard the small boat jumped overboard and escaped by swimming away. The man’s identity is known and warrants for his arrest were being filed, FWC Officer Bobby Dube said.
Acosta was charged with possessing 35 undersized lobster, in addition to possessing dozens of separated lobster tails on the water (lobster must remain whole on the water). Other charges include exceeding the recreational bag limit and possessing six stone-crab claws in a closed season. Acosta also faces a count of resisting arrest without violence.

Jose Acosta is held on $42,000 bond.
Another 44 whole lobsters were found on the abandoned boat. The boat was seized. Overall, he faces 121 misdemeanors.
Acosta remained in the Monroe County jail Tuesday under a $42,000 bond.
Don’t be a Lobster Mobster!

Source: Marathon man jailed for 121 illegal lobster | Crime | KeysNet