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Press Release

Fort Pierce Resident Ordered to Pay $5,000 Fine for Violation of the Manatee Zone Restrictions

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida

A Fort Pierce resident was sentenced today to one year of probation and ordered to pay a $5,000.00 fine by Chief United States Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch. Jr., for violating manatee zone speed restrictions.

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jason Riley, Deputy Resident Agent in Charge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), made the announcement.

Christopher Michael McManus, 37, of Fort Pierce, previously pled guilty to one count of engaging in a waterborne activity contrary to law, in violation of Title 16, United States Code, Section 1583(a)(1)(G).  McManus’s court ordered fine will be forwarded to the Lacey Act Reward Account to support wildlife conservation activities. 

According to court documents and information disclosed during the court proceedings, on July 3, 2015, McManus was observed at the west shoreline of the Indian River, in the Intracoastal Waterway, in St. Lucie County, operating his boat within the clearly posted slow speed minimum wake manatee protection zone.  McManus was operating his boat on plane and creating an excessive wake.  McManus had numerous prior convictions for violating fish and wildlife regulations.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel E. Funk.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

Updated January 29, 2016

Topic
Environment