Eight La Ronge area residents are dishing out $11,110 in fines, because of illegal marketing of fish and wildlife. Conservation officers were tipped off in 2015 through the Turn-in-Poachers line and commenced an undercover investigation that spanned two years. Numerous charges, warnings of non-compliance, and the search of a home took place over the course of three separate operations.
34 year old Jordan Charles had the heftiest fine for illegally marketing fish on multiple occasions. He has three years probation and faces conditions when fishing plus he has to complete six school presentations on the importance or conservation.
70 year old Daniel Ratt and 56 year old Nora Charles were fined after pleading guilty to illegally marketing fish on multiple occasions as well as illegally trafficking wildlife. Neither can purchase a commercial fishing license for five years. 62 year old Jack Bell of La Ronge pleaded guilty to one count of fish trafficking and one count of aiding and abetting fishing during closed times. As well, four other people from La Ronge voluntarily paid fines and received one year suspensions from buying an angling license.