Charles R. Jamison, Bonnethead Shark Trafficking, Florida 2022

Florida Keys Resident Sentenced for Illegally Trafficking in Bonnethead Sharks

In a shocking case of environmental crime, Charles R. Jamison, a 75-year-old resident of Little Torch Key, Florida, has been sentenced to 18 months of probation for his role in a massive bonnethead shark trafficking operation in the Florida Keys.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Jamison was found guilty of conspiring with others to transport, sell, receive, acquire, and purchase juvenile bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo) with a fair market value in excess of $350.00. The sharks were taken, possessed, transported, sold, and intended to be sold in violation of the laws and regulations of the State of Florida.

Jamison was also ordered to pay a criminal fine of $2,000 and to forfeit his vessel, engine, trailer, tackle, and gear used in the commission of the Lacey Act violations. The Court also imposed a special condition precluding Jamison from engaging in the marine wildlife industry during the period of probation.

The investigation, known as Operation Rock Bottom, was a joint effort between the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Watts-FitzGerald and Antonia Barnes.

The bonnethead shark is a protected species in Florida, and the laws and regulations surrounding its harvesting and sale are strict. The case highlights the ongoing problem of environmental crime in the Florida Keys and the importance of enforcing the laws that protect our natural resources.

Jamison’s sentencing is a significant victory for the conservation efforts in the Florida Keys, and it serves as a warning to others who would engage in similar activities. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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