Keokuk residents charged with illegal fish selling

Two Keokuk residents have been charged with illegally selling fish.

On Sept. 16, after an investigation by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources from July, Jennifer Feilen, 29, was charged with no commercial fishing license, unlawful commercialization of wildlife, unlawfully selling buffalo carp, unlawfully selling drum fish and unlawfully selling largemouth bass.

Jerry Feilen, 32, was also charged with no commercial fishing license, unlawful commercialization of wildlife, unlawfully selling channel catfish, unlawfully selling white bass, and unlawfully selling common carp.

During the investigation, officers witnessed the two men selling fish on three occasions, and on Aug. 15, a search warrant was executed at their residence, where fish packaged for sale and a scale used to weigh the packages were found, according to a news release from the Iowa DNR.

According to the release, unlawful commercialization of wildlife is a serious misdemeanor and requires a court appearance.  The Feilens have a court date scheduled for Oct. 7 in Keokuk. Fines for the remaining four charges total $476.25 for each individual.  Liquidated damages totaled $805.  Both individuals will likely lose their fishing privileges.

“Citizen involvement played an important role in this case," Conservation Officer Joe Fourdyce said in the news release. "We are covering larger areas because we are short handed and appreciate Iowans taking ownership of their natural resources and calling us either directly or through the TIP line when they see something that is not right."