Louisiana agents penetrate black market in wild game

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Enforcement Division agents have cited a Bayou Pigeon man for his connection to an illegal deer market.

Brad Rineheart, 35, of Plaquemine, turned himself in to the Iberville Sheriffs Office on a warrant issued by Judge James Best and was booked into the Iberville Parish jail on Jan. 25 for three counts of allegedly selling deer. He sold three deer to an undercover LDWF agent.

Rineheart is the third person to be arrested for selling deer to undercover agents in an investigation that was initiated in January 2009. His brother, Henry Rineheart, 34, was arrested last week. Uniformed LDWF agents from the area are currently investigating other charges as a result of the year-long investigation.

The penalties for selling deer are fines between $500 and $750, and imprisonment between 15 to 30 days, or both plus court costs. Civil restitution for the illegal deer is $524.54 each. The deer in the case were seized and are being held as evidence.