Two men face federal charges for stealing sea turtle eggs

Two men face federal charges for stealing sea turtle eggs

Two men from Riviera Beach are facing federal charges of stealing sea turtle eggs from a beach in St. Lucie County. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced federal indictments against 60-year-old Carl Lawrence Cobb and 50-year-old Raymond Saunders. They were arrested last May.

Investigators said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a tip about a man disturbing sea turtle nests on North Hutchinson Island. Authorities responded and found the men had taken more than 200 eggs from two nests.

Cobb is facing two counts of transporting sea turtle eggs for the purpose of sale. This is in violation of the Lacey Act.  He is also facing two counts of violating the Endangered Species Act by possessing the eggs. Saunders is facing one count of transporting sea turtle eggs for the purpose of sale and one count of violating the Endangered Species Act by possessing the eggs.

Both men face up to five years in prison if convicted on each count of the Lacey Act violation, and up to 12 months in prison if convicted on each count of the Endangered Species Act violation.

TreasureCoast

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  • Posted 7 years ago

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