Two people were arrested for illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries in Central Florida.
Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Agriculture Crimes Unit followed up on a tip from a property owner who witnessed trespassers harvesting palmetto berries on their property in the 5000 block of US Highway 41.
The owner provided a photo of the suspect’s vehicle, which allowed local deputies to locate 39-year-old Heladio Gonzalez-Hernandez and 42-year-old Maria Hernandez-Santiago at a residence in Plant City, near Tampa. They were arrested and taken into custody without incident.
The illegally harvested berries weighed 801 pounds.
Gonzalez-Hernandez was charged with Possession or Exchange of Unlawfully Harvested Saw Palmetto Berries and Unlawful Destruction or Harvest of Saw Palmetto Berries.
Hernandez-Santiago was charged with Possession or Exchange of Unlawfully Harvested Saw Palmetto Berries and Unlawful Destruction or Harvest of Saw Palmetto Berries.
“I could not be more proud of the work our Agricultural Crimes Unit does here in our community, standing as a frontline defender for our county’s natural resources,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Their commitment ensures that these resources are protected from reckless exploitation, protecting the future of our habitats and preserving the environment for generations to come.”
This is an ongoing illegal harvesting investigation into illegally harvesting saw palmetto berries, according to local law enforcement.
Effective July 2018, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) requires a permit to harvest and sell saw palmetto berries in Florida. The Endangered Plant Advisory Council unanimously recommended adding saw palmetto to the FDACS commercially exploited plant list.
