(The Center Square) – Louisiana wildlife agents charged three Houma residents with illegal seafood sales after an investigation uncovered monthly shipments of seafood to North Carolina and fraudulent oyster-harvester training certificates.

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited Ana Reyna Beiza Lopez, 46; Juan Rebollar Aguilar, 42; and Izhar Rebollar-Beiza, 24, in July, following an investigation into raw seafood sales primarily in Terrebonne Parish.

According to Wildlife and Fisheries, the seafood was largely advertised for sale through social media.

Investigators say Lopez and Aguilar committed multiple violations involving the sale of oysters, blue crabs and several species of raw fish. Agents also determined seafood was being transported from Louisiana to North Carolina each month and sold in violation of state laws.

Lopez and Aguilar were cited for exporting crab or crab products without the required shipping license; selling seafood without required licenses; violating interstate commerce regulations; and failing to maintain records and possessing improperly tagged or untagged oysters, among other charges.

Both were also cited for taking spotted seatrout without a permit, taking apple snails from public waters and selling or attempting to sell undersized fish.

Lopez was additionally cited for selling or purchasing game fish.

Aguilar faces additional allegations including conspiracy, processing marine products without a permit or in an unapproved facility, failing to properly tag oysters and failing to maintain required trip tickets and oyster records.

During the investigation, agents say Aguilar and Rebollar-Beiza illegally produced certificates for the Best Practices for Oyster Harvester Course, which provides required training for oyster harvesters.

Rebollar-Beiza was cited for computer fraud and filing false public records.

Computer fraud carries a potential penalty of up to a $10,000 fine and five years in jail, while filing false public records carries up to a $5,000 fine and five years in jail.

Many of the seafood licensing, tagging and recordkeeping violations carry fines ranging from $250 to $500 and up to 90 days in jail for each offense. Violations involving interstate commerce regulations and taking spotted seatrout without a permit carry fines ranging from $900 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail for each offense.

Lopez and Aguilar could also face a combined $1,615 in civil restitution.