Crab grab nets federal conviction

NORFOLK, Va. – A Tangier man pleaded guilty today to overharvesting Chesapeake Blue Crabs in Virginia waters and selling them in Maryland in violation of the Lacey Act.

According to court documents, between March 20, 2023, to April 20, 2023, James Warren Eskridge, 45, exceeded the maximum harvest and sale of blue crabs to a seafood buyer on 16 occasions. Chesapeake Blue Crabs are the most valuable fishery in the Chesapeake Bay and, as such, those fishing blue crabs are subject to strict limits by law. At the time of Eskridge’s violations, Virginia permitted licensed commercial crabbers to harvest up to 27 bushels of blue crab per day, regardless of the number of licenses crabbers present on a single vessel. 

Eskridge operated the fishing vessel Rebecca Jean II with two mates out of Tangier Island, Virginia. On April 11, 2023, law enforcement observed Eskridge and his mates offload 60 bushels – more than double the Virginia limit – in Crisfield, Maryland. On April 11, 2023, Eskridge and his mates returned to Crisfield and offloaded 56 bushels. On April 13, 2023, they returned again and offloaded 58 bushels more.

When confronted by investigators, Eskridge originally claimed to have purchased the additional crabs from a “buy boat” to sell on shore. After being challenged, Eskridge admitted that all the crabs were his and that he was over the Virginia harvesting limit for blue crabs. Records from the seafood buyer in Crisfield showed that between March 20, 2023, and April 20, 2023, Eskridge sold in excess of 27 bushels to the seafood buyer on 16 occasions on which Eskridge’s over harvesting ranged from 32 bushels to 58.75 bushels of blue crab.

Eskridge pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly transporting and selling blue crab in interstate commerce between Virginia and Maryland in violation of Virginia law and one count of knowingly making and submitting a false record.

Eskridge is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Edward Grace, Assistant Director for the Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police provided significant assistance in the investigation of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-141.