A Florida man has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly hunting and killing at least 14 American alligators illegally while operating an airboat in central Florida. According to an affidavit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Jacob Latreille, 21, conducted the hunts along the St. Johns River in Brevard County between April 19 and May 11.
Authorities say he caught most of the reptiles by hand during the spree. “Protecting Florida’s wildlife isn’t just a job — it’s our passion and culture,” Capt. Peter Gaudion of FWC’s Northeast Region said in a statement Thursday. “Our team showed grit and determination in driving this investigation to the finish, and we held the individuals accountable who thought they could exploit our resources without consequence.”
The American alligator is Florida’s official state reptile. Once an endangered species, it now thrives with an estimated population of 1.3 million. Still, the reptiles remain federally protected under the Endangered Species Act because they closely resemble the endangered American crocodile. Illegally killing an alligator in Florida is classified as a third-degree felony.
Latreille was arrested on Monday on 13 counts of illegal killing of American alligators. Investigators said cellphone footage and photos captured him participating in the hunts, sometimes with others. Arrest warrants have been issued for three additional suspects believed to have been involved, according to the FFWCC.
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Court records describe the first day of hunting, April 19, when Latreille allegedly piloted three passengers on his airboat and instructed them on how to catch the reptiles. The group reportedly captured seven alligators, which were “thrown into the front hatch of Latreille’s airboat.”
A video on his phone later showed the animals stored on ice, with “some of the alligators alive but most appear to be dead,” the affidavit noted. Investigators also cited evidence tying Latreille to further illegal kills on April 24, April 28, and April 29.
Under Florida law, hunters must have an alligator trapping license, an FWC harvest permit, and two CITES tags to legally take alligators. The affidavit confirmed that Latreille and the others did not possess the required tags.
FWC officials underscored the broader significance of protecting the animals. “Florida’s alligators are a historical part of our heritage, our economy, and our identity as a state,” Gaudion said. “It’s our responsibility to conserve them for future generations.”
Latreille now faces serious legal consequences as the state moves forward with the prosecution, marking one of the most significant recent cases of illegal alligator hunting.