WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) - Authorities say three North Carolina fishermen are pleading guilty to illegally catching and selling Atlantic striped bass from federal waters.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Monday that 54-year-old Bryan Daniels of Belhaven; 63-year-old Stephen Daniels of Wanchese and 46-year-old James Lewis of Gloucester pleaded guilty.
The records show the three caught a combined 29,000 pounds of fish with a fair market value of about $229,000.
Court records show the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration received information in February 2010 that commercial trawlers were illegally fishing for Atlantic striped bass in federal waters off the North Carolina coast.
Eight other commercial fishermen previously pleaded guilty to similar charges.
No date has been set for sentencing. The three face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.