FWC INVESTIGATORS CITE FLORAL CITY MAN FOR ILLEGALLY KILLING AN ALLIGATOR
Sept. 13, 2005
Contact: Karen Parker (386) 758-0525
A Floral City man was charged Sept. 7 by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators for the illegal sale and possession of an alligator.
Justin Pilla, 20, was charged for violation of Florida Statute 372.662, unlawful sale, possession or transporting of alligators or alligators skins and Florida Administrative Code 68A-25.002(1), general provisions for taking, possession and sale of reptiles. Both charges are first-degree misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
FWC investigators received an anonymous tip Aug. 23 that Pilla was seen using a harpoon-type spear gun to kill an alligator in a canal behind his house in Floral City.
Aug. 24, an FWC investigator visited Pilla’s residence and offered to buy some gator meat from Pilla, telling the suspect he had heard Pilla had meat for sale. At first, Pilla said no and that killing gators was against the law. However, as the investigator turned to leave, Pilla called him back, asked him if he was a “cop,� and offered to sell approximately four pounds of meat for $23. Pilla also told the investigator he would have more later in the week after he killed a 12-foot alligator that would come to him when he fed the animal marshmallows.
The investigator returned to Pilla’s residence several days later. However, Pilla stated he had gotten “spooked� when he saw police driving around his neighborhood and had not killed any additional alligators.
Sept. 7, the investigator returned to Pilla’s house and charged him for illegally selling alligator meat and illegal possession of an alligator. According to the investigator, Pilla cooperated by showing the investigator where the 5 ½ – foot alligator carcass was buried.
“This tip was a good example of citizens working with FWC to protect Florida’s fish and wildlife,� said Capt. Martin Redmond, investigations captain for the FWC’s North Central Region. “Anyone who witnesses illegal activity can call our toll-free Wildlife Alert number (1-888-404-3922) and report what they’ve seen. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if the tip leads to a conviction.�
People can also report illegal activity via the Internet by going to MyFWC.com/law/alert/. More information about the program is also available at that site.
Sept. 13, 2005
Contact: Karen Parker (386) 758-0525
A Floral City man was charged Sept. 7 by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators for the illegal sale and possession of an alligator.
Justin Pilla, 20, was charged for violation of Florida Statute 372.662, unlawful sale, possession or transporting of alligators or alligators skins and Florida Administrative Code 68A-25.002(1), general provisions for taking, possession and sale of reptiles. Both charges are first-degree misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
FWC investigators received an anonymous tip Aug. 23 that Pilla was seen using a harpoon-type spear gun to kill an alligator in a canal behind his house in Floral City.
Aug. 24, an FWC investigator visited Pilla’s residence and offered to buy some gator meat from Pilla, telling the suspect he had heard Pilla had meat for sale. At first, Pilla said no and that killing gators was against the law. However, as the investigator turned to leave, Pilla called him back, asked him if he was a “cop,� and offered to sell approximately four pounds of meat for $23. Pilla also told the investigator he would have more later in the week after he killed a 12-foot alligator that would come to him when he fed the animal marshmallows.
The investigator returned to Pilla’s residence several days later. However, Pilla stated he had gotten “spooked� when he saw police driving around his neighborhood and had not killed any additional alligators.
Sept. 7, the investigator returned to Pilla’s house and charged him for illegally selling alligator meat and illegal possession of an alligator. According to the investigator, Pilla cooperated by showing the investigator where the 5 ½ – foot alligator carcass was buried.
“This tip was a good example of citizens working with FWC to protect Florida’s fish and wildlife,� said Capt. Martin Redmond, investigations captain for the FWC’s North Central Region. “Anyone who witnesses illegal activity can call our toll-free Wildlife Alert number (1-888-404-3922) and report what they’ve seen. Callers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if the tip leads to a conviction.�
People can also report illegal activity via the Internet by going to MyFWC.com/law/alert/. More information about the program is also available at that site.
ccasion5:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!