The Justice Department, along with NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, announced that Van Bodden-Martinez, a Bahamian national residing in Palm Beach County, was arrested on a warrant issued as a result of his indictment by a federal Grand Jury for having imported and attempted to import into the U.S. fish and wildlife possessed and transported in violation of the laws of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, in violation of the Lacey Act.

According to the indictment, on or about February 19, 2011, Bodden-Martinez attempted to import spiny lobster (Panulirus argus), queen conch (Strombus gigus), and yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus), all of which had been harvested without first acquiring a permit to engage in fishing activities and in violation of the possession limits for each of the species set forth in the laws and regulations of the Bahamas.

If convicted on the charge, Bodden-Martinez faces a possible term of imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. An indictment is only an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.