(FL) Felon helps draft grouper rules

[DoYouEverWonder]

December 8, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - One of the architects of a $35-million plan to help the embattled grouper fishing industry was once sent to federal prison for his role in a criminal conspiracy involving illegal grouper fishing.

Dean A. Pruitt, 46, of Clearwater admitted to using "deceit, craft, trickery, and dishonesty" to undermine federal enforcement of grouper regulations in the early 1990s.

Pruitt, who spent four months in federal prison, is part of a nine-member committee that helped the Southern Offshore Fishing Association, based in Madeira Beach, draft a plan to "buy back" some federal fishing permits.

The idea is to reduce the number of fishermen and make the industry more profitable for those who remain.

"To have individuals like that on the committee certainly undermines the credibility of the proposed buyout," said Ted Forsgren, executive director for the Florida Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/08/State/Felon_helps_draft_gro.shtml


So even though felons are not allowed to vote in this state, that shouldn't get in the way of Jeb appointing them to a committee that oversees the very thing they went to jail for. At least the guy knows what a grouper looks like, I suppose?