Wildlife Officers Make Arrests For Dealing In Game Animals, Moonshine

10 People Face Total Of 88 Charges

Six people were arrested in and around Baker County Thursday morning, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission has warrants for four others in connection with numerous crimes against wildlife.

Two of the suspects -- both women -- were also charged with selling moonshine.

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The arrest warrants were issued after an the undercover investigation into the illegal sale of fish and wildlife by FWC officers posing as local hunters and fishermen.

"The sale of game animals and fish is illegal," FWC Maj. Gary Strickland said in a statement. "There is no commercial harvest of these recreational resources. If this was allowed, it could deplete our natural resources that FWC is working to preserve for our recreational users."

Florida Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco agents were brought into the investigation after undercover officers reported several purchases of illegal moonshine whiskey during the investigation.

The majority of the charges are fish and wildlife cases, totaling 67 first- and second-degree misdemeanors and 21 felonies.

Those arrested were:

  • Joanne Rhoden, 47, Glen St. Mary, illegal sale of three gallons of moonshine whiskey, third-degree felony
  • Ronnie Stafford, 49, Sanderson, illegal purchase of freshwater game fish, second-degree misdemeanor
  • Tambra Long, 40, Sanderson, illegal sale of deer meat and products, three counts, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of moonshine whiskey, two counts, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of over one gallon of moonshine whiskey, five counts, third-degree felony
  • Robert Raulerson, 36, Sanderson, illegal purchase of black bass, bream and specks, second-degree misdemeanor
  • James Brown, 50, Sanderson, illegal killing of an American alligator, third-degree felony; illegal sale of alligators, first-degree misdemeanor; contributing to the delinquency of a minor child, first-degree misdemeanor
  • James Bullard, 24, Macclenny, illegal possession of American alligators, two counts, third-degree felony; illegal sale of American Alligator, first-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of alligator meat, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of whitetail deer, eight counts, third-degree felony; illegal possession of freshly killed deer during closed season, three counts, first-degree misdemeanor
  • George Williams, 46, Sanderson, illegal purchase/sale of freshwater game fish, 18 counts, second-degree misdemeanor
  • Harold Castleberry, 24, Glen St. Mary, illegal possession of whitetail deer during closed season, two counts, first-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of whitetail deer, two counts, third-degree felony; illegal possession of American alligator meat, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of American alligator meat, second-degree misdemeanor
  • Aubrey Ruise, 44, Sanderson, illegal sale/purchase of freshwater game fish, 26 counts, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of saltwater products without a saltwater products license, two counts, second-degree misdemeanor
  • Leo Jefferson, 36, Macclenny, illegal sale of whitetail deer, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of deer meat, two counts, third-degree felony; illegal purchase of freshwater game fish, second-degree misdemeanor; illegal sale of freshwater game fish, second-degree misdemeanor

A total of 52 wildlife officers were used in rounding up the suspects Thursday morning.


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