LAKELAND, FLORIDA MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MISDEMEANOR VIOLATION OF THE LACEY ACT
FREDDY LANGFORD, a resident of Lakeland, Florida pleaded guilty as charged today in front of United States Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Knowles, III, for knowingly transporting and selling tilapia, a species of fish not native to Louisiana, into Louisiana, in violation of federal law, announced United States Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, on or about July 17, 2006, LANGFORD sold and transported tilapia from Florida to a buyer in Louisiana when in the exercise of due care, he should have known that doing so violated the laws and regulations of the State of Louisiana.
LANGFORD faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 12, 2011, at 9:30 a.m.
The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg.
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