The FWC the man and others illegally captured seven alligators from a moving airboat on April 19, most by hand, before killing “most of them.”
FLORIDA, USA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission revealed on Thursday the arrest of a 21-year-old man suspected of unlawfully capturing and killing alligators and engaging in illegal alligator hunting activities.
The FWC reported that officers took Jacob Latreille, 21, from Mims, Florida into custody on Monday after a thorough investigation into several illegal wildlife harvests earlier this year.
The investigation kicked off on May 22 when Officer Caleb Hallsten received reports about Snapchat videos allegedly showing Luke David Michael Landry, 25, from Titusville, possessing unlawfully captured alligators.
On May 27, FWC officers served a search warrant at Landry’s residence. The interviews conducted during the search pointed investigators to Latreille, who owned an airboat involved in several of these illegal activities. The FWC discovered more evidence linking Latreille to multiple unlawful alligator captures in April and May.
During the investigation, the FWC stated that on April 19, Latreille and others unlawfully captured seven alligators, mostly by hand, pulling them from the front of a moving airboat before most of them were killed.
From April 24 to May 11, the FWC reported at least seven additional alligators were illegally taken and killed. In the same timeframe, a whitetail deer was also illegally shot with a firearm.
The FWC didn’t say where the incidents took place.
The FWC said a warrant has been issued for Landry’s arrest, as well as warrants for Robert Gage Martin, 28, and Wyatt Scott Lowe, 24.
“The FWC takes these and other wildlife violations very seriously,” the FWC said in a release. “Illegally taking and handling wildlife is a serious violation of Florida law and poses risks to both wildlife and public safety.”
The public can report suspected violations by contacting the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or by submitting a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.
