Montauk Fisherman Sentenced to 30 Months for Overfishing

[george]

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Chris Winkler, 64, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Overharvest Fluke and Black Sea Bass, Falsifying Records, and Selling Illegal Catch


A Montauk, N.Y., fisherman, Chris Winkler, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday for his involvement in a conspiracy to illegally harvest and sell fluke and black sea bass beyond legal limits. Winkler, the captain of the 45-foot trawler “New Age,” was convicted by a Long Island jury last October on federal charges including criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

Winkler was found guilty of hauling excessive fish and falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities, selling the over-quota catch to partners at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk and dealers at the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx.

The sentencing, handed down by Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the severity of Winkler’s crimes, which she stated undermined the integrity of fisheries management. Winkler’s case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Long Island fishermen and federal regulators, with some local fishermen arguing that current quotas are outdated and unfair.

Winkler’s trial featured testimony from dock workers, fishermen, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The trial highlighted the federal government’s increasing use of criminal prosecution to enforce fishing regulations, marking Winkler’s case as one of several similar prosecutions in recent years.

Winkler, who expressed deep remorse for his actions, is scheduled to surrender in December.

 

[captmike28]

Chris Winkler, 64, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Overharvest Fluke and Black Sea Bass, Falsifying Records, and Selling Illegal Catch


A Montauk, N.Y., fisherman, Chris Winkler, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday for his involvement in a conspiracy to illegally harvest and sell fluke and black sea bass beyond legal limits. Winkler, the captain of the 45-foot trawler “New Age,” was convicted by a Long Island jury last October on federal charges including criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

Winkler was found guilty of hauling excessive fish and falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities, selling the over-quota catch to partners at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk and dealers at the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx.

The sentencing, handed down by Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the severity of Winkler’s crimes, which she stated undermined the integrity of fisheries management. Winkler’s case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Long Island fishermen and federal regulators, with some local fishermen arguing that current quotas are outdated and unfair.

Winkler’s trial featured testimony from dock workers, fishermen, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The trial highlighted the federal government’s increasing use of criminal prosecution to enforce fishing regulations, marking Winkler’s case as one of several similar prosecutions in recent years.

Winkler, who expressed deep remorse for his actions, is scheduled to surrender in December.

Wow, maybe I am out of the loop, but I can't recall ever hearing about an actual prison sentence handed down for fishing violations. Heavy fines, loss of credentials, maybe confiscation of boats, gear etc. But never time behind bars.

Very nasty but if you break the law to this extent maybe it is a just punishment.

 

[Roccus7]

Wow, maybe I am out of the loop, but I can't recall ever hearing about an actual prison sentence handed down for fishing violations. Heavy fines, loss of credentials, maybe confiscation of boats, gear etc. But never time behind bars.

Very nasty but if you break the law to this extent maybe it is a just punishment.

The "Codfather", Carlos Rafael, out of New Bedford makes this sentence look like a "Timeout". He got 4 years in the slammer, something like $3 million in fines, banned from fishing from life, and had to sell his fleet.

Of course, a al Al Capone, the brunt of his charges stemmed from tax evasion, but there was a ton of NOAA convictions too.

 

[OVERBORED]

Winkler is a pretty big name out in Montauk.

So now that he's busted, what about the penalty for Gossmans and Fulton Markets for being complicit in this illegal activity?

From stories I've heard over the years, Winkler wasn't the only one doing this. He just got caught!

 

[Snapprhead27]

Never knew NOAA had police till three ward melville show this past year. They need to start handing out more penalties like this for poachers.. confiscate gear, etc

 

[pequa1]

because NYS DEC can not even confiscate a kid's snapper rod...

 

[george]

The fairytale life of baker Tracy Stoloff and fisherman Captain Chris Winkler. This was written in 2018. I guess there's no fairytale ending.

The Loaves and Fishes of Montauk

Welcome to the fairytale life of baker Tracy Stoloff and fisherman Captain Chris Winkler. Together, in Montauk, they work to nourish our community—one loaf and fish at a time.

www.edibleeastend.com

 

[OVERBORED]

Not an attorney but I would venture to guess that the more serious the charges (mail fraud vs. under sized fish) the more serious the consequences.

Wouldn't it be interesting if they put an air tag in an illegally sold striped bass to see how many hands it goes through and where it ends up

 

[george]

I found this in the article:

"At the fishouse, Winkler takes a thick, waxy cardboard box from a cooler and hands it to a dock worker. Both men look disgusted with the box. “That’s the measly catch we get to keep in New York,” Winkler says. “I’ve put in 40 years and this is what it comes down to.”

I guess there were a few more boxes he forgot to mention.

 

[Chinacat]

Tough situation for sure but regardless of whether the laws or regs make sense, nobody gets to decide that they only have to abide by the ones they want to.
Like others say, it doesn’t seem right that he’s taken the brunt of this while others are not
Makes you wonder if theirs some kinda back door deal where he’ll get taken well care of his sentence is up

 

[pequa1]

Papers described grosman as “cooperative.”

 

[captmike28]

The "Codfather", Carlos Rafael, out of New Bedford makes this sentence look like a "Timeout". He got 4 years in the slammer, something like $3 million in fines, banned from fishing from life, and had to sell his fleet.

Of course, a al Al Capone, the brunt of his charges stemmed from tax evasion, but there was a ton of NOAA convictions too.

Now that you mention it, Roccus, I do recall the story of Rafael. I believe he was quite an arrogant SOB, almost daring the feds to catch him on a number of occasions. The tax evasion crime they caught him on was quite the sting operation.

I believe the saying goes "don't do the crime if you can't do the time"!!

 

[Cosimo D’Anapoli]

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Chris Winkler, 64, Found Guilty of Conspiracy to Overharvest Fluke and Black Sea Bass, Falsifying Records, and Selling Illegal Catch


A Montauk, N.Y., fisherman, Chris Winkler, 64, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Thursday for his involvement in a conspiracy to illegally harvest and sell fluke and black sea bass beyond legal limits. Winkler, the captain of the 45-foot trawler “New Age,” was convicted by a Long Island jury last October on federal charges including criminal conspiracy, mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

Winkler was found guilty of hauling excessive fish and falsifying records to conceal his illegal activities, selling the over-quota catch to partners at Gosman’s Dock in Montauk and dealers at the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx.

The sentencing, handed down by Judge Joan M. Azrack of the Eastern District of New York, emphasized the severity of Winkler’s crimes, which she stated undermined the integrity of fisheries management. Winkler’s case sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Long Island fishermen and federal regulators, with some local fishermen arguing that current quotas are outdated and unfair.

Winkler’s trial featured testimony from dock workers, fishermen, and officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The trial highlighted the federal government’s increasing use of criminal prosecution to enforce fishing regulations, marking Winkler’s case as one of several similar prosecutions in recent years.

Winkler, who expressed deep remorse for his actions, is scheduled to surrender in December.

I actually know more about this than I should probably say bc I know many ppl directly involved; but I know several captains with several boats each who run 5-7day turnarounds on 60-80ft class trawlers that fake weight, underpay crews, sell directly to markets whose markup is unbelievable - and they know about the entire racket! Think this doesn’t contribute to inflation of seafood?

 

[OVERBORED]

Everyone knows something about something.......

Actually, selling these fish hurts the honest guy as now the markets get flooded with extra product.

Bottom line is as fish prices keep going up, so will the level of risk people are willing to take.

 

[poorrichard]

and once again, The DEC is asleep at the switch!!

 

[Olenk]

This case with Chris Winkler really hits home for us local fishermen here on Long Island. It's tough seeing someone in our community getting caught up like this.

 

[pequa1]

no one should be above the law. no sympathy here. but this is far from an isolated incident or individual and others should have gone down as well. Don't like the laws; adapt, move, or seek legislation.

 

[OVERBORED]

This case with Chris Winkler really hits home for us local fishermen here on Long Island. It's tough seeing someone in our community getting caught up like this.

This wasn't an "oops, I had an extra hundred pounds of fluke in my net"!
900K in illegally sold fish
Local or not, makes all the honest guys look bad. Makes Montauk look bad!

 

[OVERBORED]

Apparently, the feds were not interested in collecting the 700+k in fines so the attorney for Winkler tried to get the DEC to go along. DEC, to their credit is pursuing every penny.