Alligator poaching
Lafayette, LA (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004
County: Lafayette
Disposition: State Citation
Person of Interest: Kip Anthony Lastrapes
Kip Lastrapes, 44, of Breaux Bridge entered into a one-count plea agreement on Nov. 15, 2005 in U.S. District Court for the Western District in Lafayette for taking alligators in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
On Sept. 7, 2004, three of Lastrapes' alligator hunting helpers were cited by Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents for taking alligators on property for which they did not possess alligator harvest tags.
An investigation resulted in the determination that the helpers were illegally taking alligators from this area under instructions by Lastrapes. It was also determined that this activity had taken place in previous years.
United States Magistrate Michael Hill sentenced Lastrapes to 180 days of home confinement and to pay the cost of electronic monitoring, three years of supervised probation with the provision that he cannot hunt alligators, and to pay a $25 assessment fee. In addition, Lastrapes was ordered to make a $10,000 donation to Louisiana Operation Game Thief, Inc., the state's poacher apprehension organization. Prosecuting the case for the government was Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Walker. Agents participating in the case were Sgt. James D. Rhodes, Senior Agent Jordan Bayham and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Special Agent Philip Siragusa. References
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