07-24-2004, 04:01 AM
[font "Arial"]Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested Timothy Patrick Trahan, 23, of Crowley on June 23 for an alleged violation of theft by fraud. An investigation was initiated after agents received complaints of two people fraudulently selling shrimp to individuals by delivering smaller amounts in weight than agreed upon in the sale. [/font]
As part of the undercover investigation, two shrimp salesmen arrived at a residence in Covington with what Timothy Trahan claimed to be 290 pounds of shrimp. A price of $4.20 per pound was agreed upon and Trahan weighed the shrimp on his scale completed the $1218 transaction. After the sale was completed buyers involved identified themselves as wildlife enforcement agents. The shrimp were accurately weighed for a total weight of approximately 162 pounds, a difference of approximately 128 pounds. Trahan was allegedly over charging the purchasers by $537.60.
Trahan was booked into St. Tammany Parish Prison for theft by fraud. For amounts over $500, theft by fraud is punishable by imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, fines of not more than three thousand dollars, or both.
Agent Joel Cromp and an unidentified covert agent participated in the investigation.
For more information, contact Maj. Keith LaCaze at 225/765-2469 [url "mailto:klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov"]klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov
[/url]
[signature]
As part of the undercover investigation, two shrimp salesmen arrived at a residence in Covington with what Timothy Trahan claimed to be 290 pounds of shrimp. A price of $4.20 per pound was agreed upon and Trahan weighed the shrimp on his scale completed the $1218 transaction. After the sale was completed buyers involved identified themselves as wildlife enforcement agents. The shrimp were accurately weighed for a total weight of approximately 162 pounds, a difference of approximately 128 pounds. Trahan was allegedly over charging the purchasers by $537.60.
Trahan was booked into St. Tammany Parish Prison for theft by fraud. For amounts over $500, theft by fraud is punishable by imprisonment with or without hard labor for not more than ten years, fines of not more than three thousand dollars, or both.
Agent Joel Cromp and an unidentified covert agent participated in the investigation.
For more information, contact Maj. Keith LaCaze at 225/765-2469 [url "mailto:klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov"]klacaze@wlf.louisiana.gov
[/url]
[signature]