Getting Wild(life): Marines Survey Animal Populations From the Air

By Lance Cpl. Niles Lee

Marine Forces Reserve

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are able to track enemy movements no matter the terrain and provide real time updates to enemy positions. But recently, the Marines of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4, used their UASs for a more environmental purpose- conducting wildlife surveys in support of Camp Pendleton Game Wardens in California.

VMU-4 flew reconnaissance missions over a 40 kilometer area on Camp Pendleton. Instead of searching for insurgents or a runaway prisoner, they were counting the deer and bison population.

“Conducting a wildlife survey in support of Camp Pendleton Game Wardens was at first an unusual request,” said Gunnery Sgt. William Franceschini, the operations chief of VMU-4. “However, it turned out to be a great and unique training opportunity for our Marines.”

Prior to this year’s survey, CPGW hired off base helicopter contractors to conduct annual wildlife surveys to gain an estimate of the deer and bison population; an expensive and sometimes dangerous process.

After a helicopter struck a powerline during last year’s survey, CPGW decided to find a more effective and safer method of surveying the wildlife.

“Luckily no one was hurt,” said Peggy Boone, a biological science technician with CPGW. “But it was a good time to reevaluate how we conducted these surveys.”

VMU-4 exists to perform unmanned aerial reconnaissance and uses many different types of observation methods to fly reconnaissance missions in support of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Their mission is to act as the eyes in the sky for units that request their support.

“Transitioning into a more efficient and cost effective method of surveying wildlife, the Game Wardens asked VMU-4 to support them with an Unmanned Aircraft System,” said Capt. Shanna Ream, the operations officer of VMU-4.

UASs are able to fly at an elevation of 8,000 feet, stay in the air for nine hours and locate targets using multiple camera systems to better support and assist their day or nighttime operations.

“With the UASs able to fly at a much higher altitude than helicopters, it gives them a greater aerial view while also being safer,” said Boone.

VMU-4 conducted the survey at night and used infrared to count the deer and bison based off of their heat signature. The unit waited until night so that the animal’s heat signatures would show up better against the cooler landscape.

“Deer like to take cover in the shade of trees and shrubbery, making them difficult to see even during the day,” said Boone. “With the infrared cameras we’re able to see past that, allowing us to get a more accurate count.”

Conducting the survey allowed VMU-4 to get more practice with completing mission essential tasks, participate in a new, realistic training environment and providing CPGW a more efficient and cheaper method of counting wildlife.

“It’s a really cool opportunity because we actually had heat sensitive, living targets that moved around and hid in an environment instead of just notional targets,” said Franceschini. “We treated the survey as an actual reconnaissance mission by calling the wildlife enemy combatants, but everyone knew they were just deer and bison.”

The Camp Pendleton Game Wardens are still awaiting results from other surveying methods to cross check the results from the UASs. However, they are looking forward to working with VMU-4 again and hope to implement the use of UAS in future years.

Owner of Arecibo Aquarium Business Pleads Guilty to Two Federal Lacey Act Felonies for Illicit Trafficking of Protected Corals

Aristides Sanchez, a resident of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to two felony violations of the federal Lacey Act for collecting, purchasing, falsely labeling, and shipping protected marine invertebrate species as part of an effort to subvert Puerto Rican law designed to protect corals and other reef species, the Department of Justice announced.

Sanchez was the owner of the Arecibo-based saltwater aquarium business, Wonders of the Reef Aquarium. A large part of the business was devoted to the sale of native Puerto Rican marine species that are popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. Sanchez sent live specimens to customers in the mainland United States and foreign countries by commercial courier services. One of the most popular items that Sanchez sent off-island was an organism from the genus Ricordea. These animals are known as “rics,” “polyps,” or “mushrooms” in the aquarium industry. Members of the genus form part of the reef structure and spend their adult lives fastened in place to the reef. These animals are colorful in natural light, but what makes them particularly interesting to aquarium owners is that they “glow” under the UV lights that are typically used in high-end saltwater aquariums.

“Coral reefs surrounding the island of Puerto Rico are some of the most valued and fragile natural resources in the region,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Division will continue to work with its enforcement partners to prosecute those who illegally harm the marine environment for commercial gain.”

“We will continue to prosecute those who exploit our protected marine life for financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico. “We appreciate the support of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration agents in this investigation.”

“This investigation, serves as a fine example of ongoing joint investigative efforts related to the entire span of the marine life trade,” said Resident Agent in Charge David Pharo of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Whether responsibility lies as the initial harvester, wholesaler, retailer or a public aquarium, the USFWS and partner agencies stand ready to investigate the matter and bring those responsible for poaching our nations sensitive marine life resources to justice.”

“Our partnerships are vital to helping ensure the protection and sustainability of living marine resources. This investigation is another great example of how successful partnerships lead to effective results,” said Deputy Director Logan Gregory of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement. “Investigating and bringing to justice those who exploit protected marine life is vital in helping to ensure a healthy ocean.”

It is illegal to harvest Ricordea, zoanthids, and anemones in Puerto Rico if the specimens are going to be sent off-island or otherwise sold commercially, nor is there a permit available to do so. Sanchez personally collected some of the Ricordea and other reef creatures that he sold off-island. On multiple occasions, he would accompany another person and they would snorkel from the shoreline in search of Ricordea. Because Ricordea are attached to the reef substrate, Sanchez would utilize a chisel to break off the animals, and in doing so, take chunks of the reef with him. At other times, Sanchez would purchase the Ricordea from other sources, knowing or suspecting that the specimens had been harvested illegally.

In order to cover up the nature of his shipments and to avoid detection from governmental inspection authorities, Sanchez would falsely label each shipment. The false labeling was one of identification whereby Sanchez would refer to living marine organisms as “pet supplies,” “aquarium supplies,” “LED lights,” or similar inanimate objects on shipping labels and invoices. At times, he used a fake name to cover his actions.

From January 2013 to March 2016, Sanchez sent or caused to be sent at least 130 shipments of falsely labeled marine species that were illegally harvested in the waters of Puerto Rico. While there is some variation in the price of Ricordea depending on coloration, size, and other factors, the retail value of Ricordea shipped by Sanchez typically ranges from $25 to $50 per item. From on or about January 7, 2013, through on or about March 16, 2016, the retail value of the falsely labeled and/or unlawfully harvested marine invertebrates shipped personally by Sanchez, or on his behalf with his knowledge, was between $800,000 and $1,200,000.

Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2017.

This case was investigated as part of Operation Rock Bottom and Operation Borinquen Chisel by Special Agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with support from the USFWS Inspectors. The case is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Hale of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Marquez of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.

Three Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Violate the Lacey Act by Illegally Trafficking Threatened Alligator Snapping Turtles

The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Travis Leger and Rickey Simon, both of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Jason Leckelt of Wilburton, Oklahoma, have all pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act by illegally trafficking alligator snapping turtles.

Alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in the world and can grow to weigh more than 200 pounds with a lifespan of more than 100 years. The turtles are designated as threatened with statewide extinction under Texas State Law, which strictly prohibits anyone from taking, capturing, transporting, or selling these turtles, or attempting to do so. The turtles are also protected under Louisiana State Law, which makes it illegal to sell or barter for the turtles. The Lacey Act makes it a federal crime to engage in the interstate trafficking of wildlife taken in violation of state wildlife protection laws.

“Those who choose to exploit our precious wildlife resources threaten the existence of these rare reptiles,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston. “Protection of the turtles and the prevention of diseases that may spread by these actions make these prosecutions vital to the health of our natural wildlife.”

In April 2017, Leger, Leckelt, and Simon were charged in a six-count indictment. The conspiracy charged all defendants with illegally taking more than 60 large alligator snapping turtles during their multiple fishing trips to Texas in the spring and summer of 2016, and also with transporting the turtles back to a property in Sulphur, Louisiana, where they intended to sell the turtles. In July 2016, Federal agents seized about 30 large alligator snapping turtles from ponds located at a defendant’s property in Sulphur, Louisiana, pursuant to a federal search warrant.

As part of his guilty plea, Travis Leger admitted to selling a live, illegally taken, 171-pound turtle for $1,000 and another live, illegally taken, 168-pound turtle for $500 in May and June of 2016. The turtles were later seized by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agents from the buyer and are currently being cared for at a private facility. In sum, Leger admitted that the market value of all the turtles that he caught illegally in Texas and then sold in Louisiana during the course of the conspiracy was between $40,000 and $95,000. Leger also agreed to forfeit all of the turtles seized from his property in Sulphur, Louisiana, and will permit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to return to the property, drain the ponds, and seize all remaining alligator snapping turtles. Similarly, Jason Leckelt, who is Leger’s half-brother, admitted that the market value of the turtles that he illegally personally caught in Texas and sold in Louisiana during the course of the conspiracy was between $15,000 and $40,000.

Finally, Rickey Simon admitted that his role in the conspiracy included selling a 120-pound alligator snapping turtle, illegally caught in Texas, to an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agent in May of 2016. In addition, Mr. Simon admitted that he obstructed justice by deleting text messages from his cell phone prior to being interviewed by a Special Agent from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the execution of the search warrant at the Sulphur property in July 2016. Simon deleted the text messages from his cell phone after Travis Leger called and warned him that game wardens were coming to the Sulphur property to take the turtles out of the ponds. Simon also admitted that he subsequently made false statements to the Special Agent during the execution of the search warrant at the Sulphur property by denying that he had ever fished for alligator snapping turtles in Texas.

The defendants all face up to a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy convictions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte of the Eastern District of Texas and Senior Trial Attorney David P. Kehoe of the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.