Florida: Ray Saunders and Carl Cobb poached more than 500 Loggerhead sea turtle eggs

FLORIDA -- Two men are facing criminal charges for poaching hundreds of sea turtle eggs in St. Lucie County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission arrested Raymond Saunders, 50, and Carl Cobb, 60, both of Riviera Beach.

The two are accused of stealing more than 500 Loggerhead sea turtle eggs in a rural beach area of North Hutchinson Island early Wednesday morning. A tip from a nest watch volunteer led to the arrests.

Saunders and Cobb will be in court Thursday morning.

The men are facing third degree Felony charges of possession of more than 11 marine turtle species/eggs and illegal taking/distribution of sea turtle eggs.

Experts reburied the eggs with the hope that they can be hatched.

Sea turtle eggs are considered a delicacy in some cultures, and can be sold for $20 – $30 per dozen.

“There is a market that goes on in this area for illegal harvest of sea turtle eggs, we speculate that may be the motivator for this kind of situation, but all of that will have to be determined as the investigation continues,” said Carol Lynn Parrish with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

While sea turtle egg poaching is not common, Parrish says it’s not unheard of.

In July 2016, FWC arrested 49 year-old Glenn Robert Shaw of Tequesta for allegedly stealing 107 eggs from a nest behind a Jupiter Island home.

These cases, Parrish said, shows the importance of the public remaining vigilant and reporting any suspicious activity.

People who suspect illegal activity or see injured wildlife can call Florida Fish and Wildlife’s 24 hour hotline at 1-888-404-3922.

Loggerhead Nesting In Florida:
The loggerhead turtle is the most common sea turtle found in Florida. It has a reddish-brown shell and is named for its large head. Adults can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds and can reach 3 feet in length. Loggerheads typically nest in Florida from April to September.

Females return to their nesting beach every two or more years (average 2.7 years) to lay an average of 4.1 clutches, one about every 14 days (Witherington et al. 2006). Each nest contains an average of 114 eggs (Brost et al. 2015).

Laws:
Sea turtles are either endangered or threatened (the loggerhead is the only species that has a population high enough to be only threatened in Florida). They are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and  Florida's Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431, Florida Statutes).

Florida Statutes (F.A.C. Rule 68E-1) restrict the take, possession, disturbance, mutilation, destruction, selling, transference, molestation, and harassment of marine turtles, nests or eggs.  Protection is also afforded to marine turtle habitat.

A specific authorization from Commission staff is required to conduct scientific, conservation, or educational activities that directly involve marine turtles in or collected from Florida, their nests, hatchlings or parts thereof, regardless of applicant's possession of any federal permit.

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Gender: Male
Arrest Age:60
Date:05/24/2017
Time: 5:55 PM
Total Bond: $7500
Charges

1. A Person,firm Or Corp That Illegally Possess More Than 11 Marine Turtle Eggs. BOND: $3750
2. Any Person That Illegally Takes Distrubs Mutilates Destroys Causes To Be Destroyed Transfers Sells Offer To Sell Molest Or Harrasses Any Marine Turtle Species Nest Eggs. BOND: $3750

PREVIOUS ARRESTS:

Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Date:01/07/2010
Time: 8:29 PM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Arrest Age:53
Current Age: 60
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 08/22/1956
Block: 1400 W 36th St
City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Charges

1. SHOPLIFTING-PETIT FROM MERCHANT 2ND OR SUBSQ OFF. STATUTE: 812.015-2801
2. CRIMES AGAINST PERSON-RESIST PROP RECOVERY RETAIL MERCHANT OR FARMER. STATUTE: 812.015-2804

Full Name: Carl Lawrence Cobb
Date:06/23/2010
Time: 2:37 AM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Personal Information
Arrest Age:53
Current Age: 60
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 08/22/1956
Block: 1400 W 36th St
City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Charges

1. FAILURE TO APPEAR-FAILURE TO APPEAR. STATUTE: 843.15-3163
1. NOTES: FTA FOR ARR: CT1} RETAIL THEFT BOND: $150
2. NOTES: CT2} RESISTING MERCHANT BOND: $150 DIV/NB JDG/ JOHNSON

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Date:05/24/2017
Time: 5:39 PM
Agency: St. Lucie County, Florida
Total Bond: $7,500
Charges

1. A Person,firm Or Corp That Illegally Possess More Than 11 Marine Turtle Eggs BOND: $3,750 
2. Any Person That Illegally Takes Distrubs Mutilates Destroys Causes To Be Destroyed Transfers Sells Offer To Sell Molest Or Harrasses Any Marine Turtle Species Nest Eggs. BOND: $3,750 

Previous arrests:
Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Arrest Age:41
Current Age: 50
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1400 W 29th St City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Date:02/03/2009
Time: 4:58 PM
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH
Charges
#1 TRESPASSING-PROPERTY NOT STRUCTURE OR CONVEY STATUTE: 810.09-2773

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders 

Arrest Age:44
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 2500 Westchester Dr City: Riviera Beach, Florida 33407 Date:03/19/2011 Time: 5:49 PM
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH Location: Palm Beach County, Florida Charges

1. LOITERING - OR PROWLING STATUTE: 856.021-3246 

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Arrest Age:47
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1100 W 29th St City: Riviera Beach, Florida 33404
Date:04/20/2014
Arresting Agency: RIVIERA BEACH
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Total Bond: $3,000
Charges

1. TRESPASSING - FAIL TO LEAVE PROPERTY UPON ORDER BY OWNER STATUTE: 810.09-2774 
2. COCAINE-POSSESS - POSSESS COCAINE STATUTE: 893.13-5330 BOND: $3,000 

Full Name: Raymond Lamar Saunders
Date:09/04/2014
Time: 11:25 AM
Arresting Agency: PBSO
Arrest Age:47
Gender: Male
Birthdate: 02/26/1967
Block: 1400 W 29th St City: West Palm Beach, Florida 33404
Location: Palm Beach County, Florida
Charges

1. BOOKED - RE-COMMIT STATUTE: 0004 

 (WINK News - May 26, 2017)