Three Arrested On Meth And Poaching Charges in
“Operation Stone Duck”
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October 18, 2007
Gulfport, Mississippi - Mark Necaise, Samuel Necaise and John
Cuevas were arrested on October 17th on federal charges relating to
the distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton
announced today. All three are scheduled to appear in U.S. District
Court in Gulfport at 3:30 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge
Robert H. Walker for an initial appearance. Mark Necaise and Samuel
Necaise are charged with distributing more than five (5) grams of
methamphetamine. John Cuevas is charged with conspiracy to
distribute more than five (5) grams of methamphetamine.
These arrests, accompanied by the execution of federal search
warrants in Harrison and Hancock counties, are a part of ?Operation
Stone Duck,? a joint investigation involving the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
The MDWFP launched ?Operation Stone Duck? over a year ago as an
investigation initially focused on the illegal killing of trophy
Whitetail deer in Mississippi. Investigators documented the illegal
killing of large trophy bucks on state and federal lands, including
Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and the John C. Stennis Space
Center, as well as on private property. Many trophy bucks were
killed by means of ?spotlighting? at night using motorized vehicles
and high powered rifles. Trophy Whitetail bucks were also killed in
the closed season with some bucks still in velvet. Agents also
documented numerous Migratory Bird Treaty Act violations.
Further into the investigation, investigators discovered that the
individuals were also violating numerous other federal, state and
local laws, including drug trafficking and possession of stolen
property and illegal weapons.
U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton commended the teamwork of the MDWFP, the
FBI, ATF, and FWS. ?All of the federal and state agencies involved
did an outstanding job of working together to achieve a common goal,
which is putting criminals in jail,? said Lampton.
?MDWFP?s Special Operations unit did an outstanding job with this
investigation.? stated Robert T. Oliveri, Resident Agent in Charge
with the U.S. FWS. Col. John Collins of the MDWFP also praised the
efforts of his unit and the other investigators and conservation
officers involved in the investigation.
This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information that
could help investigators should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in Jackson, Mississippi at 601-965-4469.
U.S. Attorney Lampton noted that, as in any criminal case, these
charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed
innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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