Man arrested in illegal alligator harvest case; 3 additional arrests expected
Jacob Latreille mugshot, Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Florida - On September 22, 2025, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) arrested 21 year-old Jacob William Latreille of Mims (Brevard County), Florida, possibly of Clearwater (Pinellas County), Florida, following an extensive investigation into numerous illegal wildlife harvests, earlier in the year. He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach, Florida on September 22, 2025, charged with 13 counts of alligator poaching. His bond was set at $6,500.
Officer Caleb Hallsten led the case, assisted by Officer Dennis Navarino, relying heavily on digital evidence analysis that confirmed at least fifteen wildlife violations.
The investigation began on May 22, 2025, when Officer Hallsten received information regarding Snapchat videos that showed 27 year-old Luke David Michael Landry of Titusville, Florida in possession of illegally taken alligators. A warrant was issued for Landry’s arrest.
Warrants have also been issued for 28 year-old Robert Gage Martin and 24 year-old Wyatt Scott Lowe, both of Titusville, Florida.
On May 27, 2025, officers executed a search warrant at Landry’s residence. Interviews conducted during the search led investigators to Latreille, who owned the airboat used in several of the incidents, and additional evidence that connected him to multiple illegal alligator harvests during April and May, 2025.
Key findings include Latreille and others illegally capturing 7 alligators on April 19, 2025, most by hand, snatching them from the front of a moving airboat, before killing most of them. Between April 24 and May 11, 2025, at least 7 more alligators were illegally taken and killed. During this same time period, a whitetail deer was illegally shot with a gun and light from a roadway.
The FWC takes these and other wildlife violations very seriously. Illegally taking and handling wildlife is a serious violation of Florida law and poses risks to both wildlife and public safety.
The public can report suspected violations by contacting the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) or submitting a tip online at MyFWC.com/WildlifeAlert.
For additional FWC Division of Law Enforcement news, visit MyFWC.com/LENews.