Carl Lawrence Cobb, Sea Turtle Egg Theft, Florida 2017

GRAVE CONSEQUENCES: Two Riviera Beach men, Carl Lawrence Cobb and Raymond Saunders, are facing up to five years in prison for stealing over 600 sea turtle eggs from a St. Lucie County beach.

Cobb, 60, and Saunders, 50, both of Riviera Beach, Florida, were arrested on May 24, 2017, after a concerned citizen reported disturbing sea turtle nests on North Hutchinson Island. A law enforcement investigation revealed that Cobb had removed over 200 eggs from two sea turtle nests, while Cobb and Saunders were observed removing approximately 469 eggs from nests on the same island.

The recovered eggs were relocated by marine biologists in the hope that some of them will yield hatchlings. Cobb and Saunders were arrested as they were transporting the eggs to Palm Beach County. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison for each Lacey Act violation and up to twelve months in prison for the Endangered Species Act violations.

The indictment charges Cobb and Saunders with two counts of transporting sea turtle eggs for the purpose of sale, in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, United States Code, Sections 3372(a)(1) and 3373(d)(1)(B), and two counts of violating the Endangered Species Act by possessing the eggs, in violation of Title 16, Sections 1538(a)(1)(G) and 1540(b)(1).

Cobb and Saunders are currently awaiting trial. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Butler and Assistant United States Attorney Daniel E. Funk. The investigation was led by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

According to the court record, the defendants’ actions had a devastating impact on the sea turtle population. The loss of over 600 eggs is a significant blow to the species’ chances of survival. The community is calling for stricter penalties for those who harm sea turtles and their habitats.

A concerned citizen reported the incident to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on May 5, 2017. The investigation has since led to the arrest and charging of Cobb and Saunders.

An indictment is only an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.