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Seafood Kingpin Ray Nets Guilty Plea: Lacey Act & Gun Rap
GULFPORT, MS – Lonnie M. Ray, the president of Cowart Seafood, Inc., of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is facing serious time after admitting guilt today to federal charges of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and illegal possession of a short-barreled shotgun. The bust is the result of a joint investigation by multiple federal and state agencies, exposing a rotten underbelly in the Gulf Coast seafood industry.
According to court documents, Ray, as head of Cowart Seafood, conspired to skirt the law by purchasing illegally harvested fish and then selling it across state lines. The Lacey Act makes it a federal crime to traffic in wildlife – in this case, seafood – taken in violation of state regulations. Ray’s operation allegedly involved buying fish from recreational fishermen, a clear violation of Mississippi law, and failing to report these purchases to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) using mandatory trip tickets.
The DMR requires seafood dealers to meticulously document every purchase from commercial fishermen. Ray deliberately bypassed this system, effectively operating a shadow market for Gulf seafood. This allowed him to acquire fish without accountability, potentially damaging sustainable fishing practices and undercutting legitimate businesses. While charges against Shelley H. Ray, also named in the original indictment, have been dismissed, the focus remains squarely on Lonnie Ray’s criminal activity.
But the fishy business didn’t end there. Investigators also uncovered an illegal firearm in Ray’s possession – a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun with a barrel length of less than 18 inches. This short-barreled shotgun was not registered to Ray in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, adding another serious felony to his mounting legal woes. The combination of environmental crime and weapons violations paints a picture of a man willing to break the law on multiple fronts.
U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden will hand down Ray’s sentence on Tuesday, July 25th, 2017. He’s staring down the barrel of a potential five-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine for the Lacey Act conspiracy. The firearms charge carries an even stiffer penalty – up to ten years behind bars and another $250,000 fine. The total could land Ray in prison for a decade and a half.
Acting United States Attorney Harold Brittain lauded the collaborative effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “This case demonstrates our commitment to protecting our natural resources and enforcing federal laws,” Brittain stated. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing and any further developments.
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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