Three highly-publicized cases had the attention of Keys law enforcement agencies in the week following Independence Day.
Hundreds of conch harvested illegally
The FWC is investigating a significant marine resource violation involving the illegal harvest of 291 queen conchs — a species strictly protected under Florida law due to its ecological importance and declining populations.
This incident occurred at or around the waterfront property located at 17 Shoreline Road in Key West (Key Haven) between July 7 and July 10. The FWC is asking for help from the public in gathering eyewitness accounts of suspicious activity or vessel movements in the area; any video footage (including home surveillance, boat cameras, cellphone recordings or drone footage) during the noted dates; or identification of any individuals or vessels potentially involved.
Those with tips may send them to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922); to tip@MyFWC.com; or to the anonymous tip portal through the FWC Wildlife Alert app.
Stolen rental boat heads to Cuba
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office charged 63-year-old Floyd Dean Devasier of Katy, Texas on July 10 for allegedly stealing a rental boat from a Stock Island marina and taking it to Cuba.
Devasier rented a 26.5-foot Panga boat from Beach Weekend Key West Marina for two days under an agreement that all maritime laws be followed, the vessel was not to be operated at dark, and would be returned before the end of business on July 9. A marina employee noted Devasier bought and filled an extra 20-gallon fuel tank before departing.
Devasier told the marina he would dock the boat overnight on the 6800 block of Front Street on Stock Island in accordance with the no-night-operation clause of the rental agreement. However, multiple business and vessel owners on Front Street later told the sheriff’s office the vessel was never docked there and they never observed it being there. Security footage never showed the rental boat arriving, authorities said.
The marina owners observed GPS tracking that showed the rental boat heading south in the Atlantic Ocean before tracking ceased. They attempted to call Devasier with no response and then contacted the U.S. Coast Guard and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
A fisherman reported seeing the vessel off the U.S. coastline and took pictures. The sheriff’s office learned on July 9 that the Cuban Border Guard notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Investigations that the rental boat and Devasier, as well as a 38-year-old adult female, were in their custody.
Devasier flew to Miami on July 10 and was arrested by federal authorities via a Monroe County Sheriff’s Office warrant for hiring or leasing with the intent to defraud.
Devasier has multiple prior convictions for drug-related offenses, including a case in 2019 where a vessel kept past its due date was also located in Cuba.
Marathon captains arrested
Two Marathon captains were arrested July 10 after reportedly attempting to capsize two kayakers. James Christian Gagliardini, 52, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless operation of a vessel and intentionally harassing a fisherman. Eric Robert Wink, 34, was charged with battery.
The sheriff’s office was called to the water behind The Hammocks at Marathon resort around 2 p.m. regarding a boat-related incident. The adult male victim stated he was fishing with his teenage son near the resort docks when the suspects circled them several times in a boat in an apparent attempt to capsize them. The victims stated they were in fear of being run over by the vessel.
The suspect captain, identified as Gagliardini, then pinned the bow of his vessel against the dock, trimmed the boat engine, and sprayed the victims with water, they said. The victim added the suspects were not happy the victims were fishing in the area. Security video from the marina supported the victims’ statements. Both suspects were taken to jail.
