Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Prosecution: Father tried to arrange assault on babysitter ... Police say mom used kids' IDs to steal cars ... Public ticket sales for Craterian shows begin today ... Prosecution: Father tried to arrange assault on babysitter ... Police say mom used kids' IDs to steal cars ... Public ticket sales for Craterian shows begin today ... DEPOE BAY Oregon charter fishing company accused of pocketing money for licenses Ten people charged with racketeering Comment By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jul. 10, 2015 at 7:55 PM By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jul. 10, 2015 at 7:55 PM » Social News   PORTLAND — The owners of a Depoe Bay charter fishing company are among 10 people who face racketeering charges following an investigation into a scheme involving fishing licenses, the Oregon State Police said Friday. Julie Harmon, 51, and Tim Harmon, 67, owners of Tradewinds Charters, were booked into the Lincoln County Jail in Newport this week after the grand jury returned an indictment July 2. Also arrested were six boat captains and two other employees. Oregon State Lt. Bill Fugate said the defendants charged customers for daily angling licenses, but they pocketed the money instead of buying licenses from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. The customers were never given actual licenses, he said. Investigators executed a search warrant in March at the company's Depoe Bay headquarters. According to the search warrant affidavit, Trooper Heather Van Meter first heard four years ago that Tradewinds was charging customers for one-day licenses but not providing them. Witnesses, including a former deckhand, later said the company often gave customers only a paper receipt. The affidavit says police troopers twice went undercover. In the first instance, a trooper without a shellfish license was able to pull two crab pots. The second time, two troopers reported getting only paper receipts after paying. Tim Harmon, from Lake Oswego, said in a statement first provided to The Oregonian that the arrests stem from a misunderstanding and the company has never done anything intentionally wrong. The Harmons' attorney, Richard Sause, said he had nothing to add. The defendants have been released from jail, and a hearing is scheduled for Aug. 17. The owners — as part of their conditional release — have been ordered to stay in Oregon, and not sell any company assets or fishing licenses. Besides racketeering, the Harmons and others were charged with theft, aggravated theft (more than $10,000), failure to remit moneys from license sales, and violations of Oregon wildlife laws. The website for Tradewinds Charters says the company was founded in 1938, and has a 10-boat fleet available for fishing, whale watching, bird watching and ecology tours. By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Jul. 10, 2015 at 7:55 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501