An investigation into the illegal taking of paddlefish from the Ohio River near the Markland Dam came to a head on Monday morning as law enforcement officials conducted a raid that included warrants for the arrest of 16 different individuals on more than 70 separate charges.
“The investigation has been dealing with illegal trade of paddlefish roe (eggs),” Indiana Conservation officer Steve Kinne said. “They sell them and turn them into caviar.”
A total of 13 warrants were served on individuals on Monday morning. Some were served at the suspect’s homes, while others were served while the suspects were fishing at the Markland Dam. The other three suspects who have warrants out for their arrest have not yet been found.
“This investigation took in the entire length of the Ohio River on the Indiana side,” Officer Kinne said. “The charges range from felonies to misdemeanors; and the investigation involved the cooperative efforts of Indiana and Kentucky conservation officers as well as federal officers.”
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources was assisted in the investigation and Monday’s raids by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officers and federal officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This raid was similar to the one that was conducted here in 1998.
One might wonder why all the fuss over paddlefish – also known as spoonbill catfish. The big reason – money.
The best caviar in the world comes from sturgeon that are found in the Caspian Sea. As the number of sturgeon in that area decreases due to heavy fishing and the taking of the fish eggs for the caviar, people are now looking for alternatives.
“The market value of paddlefish eggs have gone up since the sturgeon caviar has gotten more rare,” Steve Kinne said. “Apparently, paddlefish roe is close to the same consistency and taste, and is more abundant.”
One paddlefish can yield as much as $800 in eggs, and annual income for those fishermen who catch them can range from $100,000 to $400,000.
Paddlefish can be found up and down the Ohio River, but when spawning season begins, the fish swim upstream until they encounter some form of block – which in many cases is the Markland Dam. That’s where the fish stop and spawn – and that’s where fishermen can catch them.
It is legal to fish for paddlefish with a commercial fishing license when they are in season in the Ohio River, but it is illegal to fish for them in tributaries or “closed waters”. Because of the pooling at the site, the Markland Dam waters are considered “closed waters”.
A fisherman may also only catch a limit of two paddlefish per day, and it is illegal to release a paddlefish back into the water once it has been snagged.
“What some fishermen do is snag the fish, then throw back the males and keep the females,” Steve Kinne said. “That’s illegal because it throws off the balance of the fish in the river.”
Paddlefish can also grow to a large size.
Steve Kinne said that the state record for a paddlefish caught with a rod and reel is 106 pounds; while commercial fishermen have brought in paddlefish that commonly weigh over 100 pounds.
On Monday, officers went through a briefing at approximately 5 a.m., then executed the search warrants and arrest warrants beginning at approximately 6:30 a.m.
In all, 13 people were arrested and taken to the Switzerland County Detention Center:
– Clinton William Abbott, Sulphur, Kentucky, charged with conspiracy to sell wildlife.
– Larry Ray Barnes, Rising Sun, Indiana, charged with illegal sale of wild animal.
– Albert Alan Collins, Sanders, Kentucky, charged with illegal sale of wild animal; money laundering; corrupt business influence; taking fish by illegal commercial method; and commercial fishing in closed waters.
– Travis Lee Crawford, Sanders, Kentucky, charged with illegal sale of wild animal and conspiracy.
– Keith E. Hodge, Florence, charged with illegal sale of wild animal.
– Roger Brown Kinman of Ghent, Kentucky, charged with illegal sale of wild animal; conspiracy and taking fish by illegal commercial method.
– Lisa A. Mullins, Patriot, charged with illegal sale of wild animal; money laundering; corrupt business influence; and conspiracy.
– Williard Napier of Patriot, charged with corrupt business influence; money laundering; and illegal sale of wild animal.
– Lewis Maynard Rebholz of Patriot, charged with illegal sale of wild animal and money laundering.
– Darrin Wayne Turner, Patriot, charged with commercial fishing in closed waters; corrupt business influence; theft; taking fish by illegal commercial method; illegal sale of fish; illegal sale of wild animal; money laundering; and taking over daily bag limit of paddlefish.
– Jason Lee Turner of Patriot, charged with illegal sale of wild animal; failure to cease snagging paddlefish; and releasing snagged paddlefish.
– Jerry Lee Turner, Patriot, charged with illegal sale of wild animal.
– Jonathan William Turner of Patriot, charged with failure to cease snagging for paddlefish; taking fish by illegal commercial method; commercial fishing in closed waters; release of snagged paddlefish; illegal sale of wild animal; and taking over daily bag limit of paddlefish.
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Steve Kinne said that he expects the investigation to continue over the next couple of weeks, as other people involved in the commercial operation are interviewed. He does not expect more people to be charged, but Conservation Officers are in the process of gathering more evidence to go with what they already have.
“After a two year investigation, I think everybody involved in this case has been identified,” Steve Kinne said.
Captain Zach Mathews of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in Indianapolis was in Switzerland County on Monday, and said that the arrests were the culmination of a lot of hard work by officers.
“The suspects are exploiting the commercialization of fish and wildlife, and making a large profit off of fish and wildlife,” Captain Mathews said. “It’s our job to protect the state’s natural resources.”
Captain Mathews said that the arrests also involved the seizing of assets belonging to the suspects: including cars, boats, and cash. All of those assets and other evidence were brought to the Switzerland County Detention Center for storage and cataloging.
The raid drew regional coverage, as television news crews from around the Tri-State area converged on Switzerland County to report on the situation.
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One of the strangest animals you will find, paddlefish are common here, but also can be found in 23 other states – although they are considered an endangered species in 10 states: Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana.
Paddlefish can be distinguished from other freshwater fish by the presence of a very large mouth, and a long, paddle-shaped snout, called a rostrum, that is about one-third the length of the body.