Louisiana DWF Agents Arrest Fugitive in Terrebonne Parish

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested a Houma man for alleged oyster violations on Oct. 11 in Terrebonne Parish.

Danny T. Billiot Jr., 25, was dredging for oysters in Bay Long when agents boarded his vessel. After performing a vessel and license inspection, agents found that Billiot did not possess a commercial license, displayed improper boat numbers, failed to comply with personal flotation device (PFD) requirements and without possession of a fire extinguisher.

After further investigation, agents learned that Billiot had outstanding warrants in Terrebonne Parish for past fishing violations. Billiot was then arrested and booked into the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

On Oct. 12, Billiot pled guilty to the charges within the eight warrants. From April of 2007 until August of 2012, Billiot was charged with two counts of taking oysters from unapproved areas, two counts of failing to comply with PFD requirements, taking commercial fish without a commercial gear license, violating recreational gear license requirements, failing to display valid certificate decal, improper boat numbers, and no boat registration certification, violating seed ground vessel permit regulations, failing to have commercial license in possession, unlawfully taking oysters off a private lease, failing to have written permission, failing to mark oyster lease while harvesting, failing to display proper number on vessel, angling without saltwater and basic fishing licenses, and taking or possessing undersized black drum.

Honorable Judge John Walker of the Terrebonne Parish Court sentenced Billiot on Oct. 12 to six months in parish jail with credit for time served, 18 months of supervised probation in which he cannot fish for oysters and must forfeit all commercial licenses, 24 months of unsupervised probation and a $400 fine.

The charges issued on Oct. 11 are still pending. Failing to have commercial license in possession brings a fine between $250 and $500 and up to 90 days in jail. Displaying improper boat numbers, failing to comply with PFD requirements and no fire extinguisher in possession each carry a $50 fine and up to 15 days in jail.

Agents involved in the case are Lt. Joseph Arnaud, Senior Agent Ladd Turner and Agent Adam Tieben.

Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries – Enforcement Division(LDWF) is the fish & game regulatory agency of Louisiana. It has jurisdictionanywhere in the state, and in state territorial waters. The agency enforces both state and federal laws dealing with hunting, fishing, and boating safety. The agency also enforces criminal laws in rural areas including DWI enforcement both on highways and waterways. Most of the Department’s Wildlife Agents also carry Federal law enforcement commissions issued from the United States Department of the Interior - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and United States Department of Commerce - U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). These federal commissions allow these state officers to enforce federal migratory waterfowl laws and federal marine fisheries laws in state and federal waters off the coast of Louisiana. Besides their traditional role as a “game warden”, Louisiana Wildlife Enforcement Agents also have a number of other responsibilities, including conducting board of health inspections on some portions of the state’s commercial fishing industry. Agents are trained in and conduct numerous search and rescue operations, both in remote land areas and on the state’s waterways. Agents ensure that hunters, anglers, boaters, dealers, breeders, farmers, and transporters are in compliance with regulations governing equipment, quotas, licenses, and registrations. Agents also assist other State departments and law enforcement agencies in the coordination of educational and professional endeavors, as well as national and state emergency alerts by the Federal Office of Emergency Preparedness. In addition, agents perform search and rescue missions alone or in conjunction with other local, state, and federal agencies.