Illegal Seafood Kingpin? Houston Restaurateur Accused Of Selling Protected Fish

HOUSTON, TX — Texas game wardens accuse restaurateur Bruce Molzan of being the kingpin behind a massive illegal fish network that brought in more than $400,000 in profits since 2013. Nearly 28,000 pounds of illegally-caught fish, including red snapper, grouper, amberjack and red drum, were involved. Molzan allegedly sold the seafood in Ruggles Black, a restaurant he is associated with, and Ruggles Green, an eatery he was formerly part of.

Texas officials allege that Molzan's scheme could be the largest of its kind in Texas history.

"This is a big deal and exemplifies the critically important work our Texas game wardens do to protect the state’s natural resources," Col. Craig Hunter, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department's law enforcement director, said in a statement released on Wednesday. "Not only did these unscrupulous actors violate recreational fishing regulations at an extreme level for personal profit, but they also circumvented restrictions and rules governing the possession, safe handling and sale of commercial aquatic products intended for human consumption. That is not something we in law enforcement will tolerate and we are confident these individuals will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows."

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The department alleges that a network of about a dozen unlicensed commercial fisherman were part of Molzan's organization.

... Bruce Molzan, 59, of Houston, purchased and then sold the illegal finfish off the menus at restaurant businesses he is associated with — Ruggles Green and Ruggles Black. In addition, another restaurant illegally sold shrimp to Molzan for use in his restaurants in violation of commercial fish wholesale regulations. Game wardens have issued more than 200 Class C misdemeanor citations related to the investigation thus far on an array of violations, including unlawful purchase of aquatic products by a restaurant, sales and purchases of protected finfish, operating without a wholesale fish dealer’s license and related commercial fishing-related issues. Additional cases are anticipated.

National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration agents and U.S. Coast Guard personnel were part of the investigative team, and NOAA officials filed felony charges against two recreational fishermen in Freeport in connection with the case.

The scope of the investigation expanded significantly last April after U.S. Coast Guard crews stopped an unlicensed commercial fishing boat in coastal waters near Freeport with 488 red snapper weighing approximately 1,900 pounds. Texas game wardens and the National Marine Fisheries Service seized the fish, which were illegally caught in the Gulf of Mexico off Freeport and Galveston, and investigators were able to link the subjects with the illegal seafood operation.

Calls to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department were not immediately returned, and attempts to contact Molzan were unsuccessful.

— Image: flickr/Gary R. Wise