427Dave
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Did anyone see this? This is terrible that someone would even think of it. Maybe they should have tied him in the reef he damaged for target practice!
St Petersburg Times, March 24
Coral thief may not see sea for a while
A Miami man may be headed to federal prison for stealing hundreds of
coral specimens from a marine sanctuary. The case started in the fall
when two Germans were caught at the Miami airport attempting to
smuggle coral home. They told investigators they helped Alexandre
Alvarenga-Freire, 40, harvest it. Investigators put a tracking device
on the Morgan sailboat he used, and its signals showed he was
collecting the coral from the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. He was
arrested at a marina with 400 specimens, and pleaded guilty Friday.
The feds confiscated his 34-foot boat, and he could be sentenced to
up to five years in prison.
SOURCE: NMSP Daily News Clips
St Petersburg Times, March 24
Coral thief may not see sea for a while
A Miami man may be headed to federal prison for stealing hundreds of
coral specimens from a marine sanctuary. The case started in the fall
when two Germans were caught at the Miami airport attempting to
smuggle coral home. They told investigators they helped Alexandre
Alvarenga-Freire, 40, harvest it. Investigators put a tracking device
on the Morgan sailboat he used, and its signals showed he was
collecting the coral from the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. He was
arrested at a marina with 400 specimens, and pleaded guilty Friday.
The feds confiscated his 34-foot boat, and he could be sentenced to
up to five years in prison.
SOURCE: NMSP Daily News Clips