Marine Resource Issues
Abalone Poacher Parade

This page lists known abalone poachers compiled from the archives of the Press Democrat, East Bay Express, SF Examiner, Sacramento Bee", San Jose Mercury News and others. Most have been convicted and sentenced in a California court. Included in this list are the media articles, when those articles were published, what sentences the poachers were reported to have received and the legal jurisdiction involved. With the help of alert members of the public, we expect to see periodic additions to this list.

Some things are worth noting: The reported sentences are invariably harsher than what is actually served/paid. And "Jail" time refers to county jail as compared with state "Prison" time.

A different page offers a chronological collection of links to articles on abalone poaching incidents.
4/25/99 Yi Bai Rohnert Park, CA $7,500 fine
12/21/02 Ryan Berny Demolski Cloverdale, CA
5/18/02
2/07/96 Debra Blay Santa Rosa, CA 3 years prison (suspended)
2/07/96 1 year jail
1/31/96 $20,000 fine
1/30/96 5 years probation
1/29/96
1/26/96
12/02/95
5/06/95
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
9/11/96 Eddie Wayne Blay Santa Rosa, CA 2 years prison
2/07/96 $20,000 fine
2/07/96
2/07/96
2/06/96
1/31/96
1/30/96
1/29/96
1/26/96
12/02/95
5/06/95
5/05/95
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
1/30/96 Randall Lee Blay Redding, CA 120 days
1/29/96 $12,000 fine
1/26/96 5 years probation
5/06/95
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
7/ /01 Shane Neville Braithwaite, 27 Camden park, Victoria, AU 10 months jail - suspended
2 year good behaviour bond
9/10/99 Jen Chang San Francisco, CA
7/26/96 May Chang, 57 San Francisco, CA
7/15/96
7/26/96 Raymond Chang San Francisco, CA
7/15/96
12/12/96 Jack Chen, 32 San Francisco, CA 6 months jail
8/02/95 $8,000 fine
12/12/96 Linda Li Chen, 34 San Francisco, CA 120 days jail
8/02/95 $8,000 fine
10/04/97 You Sheng Chen, 56 Oakland, CA 3 years probation
12/12/96 Xi Huan Chen, 38 San Francisco, CA 1 year jail
8/02/95 $8,000 fine
8/12/97 George Leonard Combs, 28 Willits, CA
12/17/96 Timothy David Contreras, 27 El Monte, CA jail
8/22/96 $4,000 fine
8/20/96 probation
6/01/97 Lino Corchado, 25 Los Palos, CA
11/27/02 Troy Shaun Davidson, 35 Altona, Victoria, AU 7 months jail - suspended
$AU4,840 fine
2 years good behaviour bond
6/03/00 Jason Diep, 32 El Monte, CA 12 months jail
4/15/98 $40,000 fine
4/08/98 5 years probation
4/03/98
4/03/98
4/01/98
12/18/97
10/10/97
6/10/97
6/08/97
6/05/97
6/03/97
5/31/97
5/31/97
5/30/97
6/03/00 Loi Bao Diep, 30 Rosemead, CA 12 months jail
4/15/98 $40,000 fine
4/08/98 5 years probation
4/03/98
4/03/98
4/01/98
12/18/97
10/10/97
6/10/97
6/08/97
6/05/97
6/03/97
5/31/97
5/31/97
5/30/97
7/01/99 Van Ky Do, 52 Santa Rosa, CA 1 year jail
5/18/99 $20,000 fine
10/30/98 forfeit 1995 van
10/17/98
6/03/00 Chris Doan, 30 Cupertino, CA 9 months jail
4/15/98 $40,000 fine
4/08/98 5 years probation
4/03/98
4/03/98
4/01/98
12/18/97
10/10/97
6/10/97
6/08/97
6/05/97
6/03/97
5/31/97
5/31/97
5/30/97
9/07/96 Carina Duong, 24 San Francisco, CA 20 days jail
9/07/96 $5,000 fine
6/21/96
6/07/96
11/16/01 Jimmy T. Fong San Francisco, CA
6/21/02 John Funkey, 28 Capitola, CA 3 months jail
4/10/01
12/22/00
12/19/00
12/09/00
10/13/94 Jin Sun Gee, 73 Sebastopol, CA
10/01/94
11/02/02 Kim Keung Gee Oakland, CA
9/11/02
11/02/99 Kim Keung Gee, 41 Oakland, CA 16 months prison
9/11/99
8/31/00 Kim ``Richard'' Gee Fremont, CA
6/02/00
6/02/00 Kim ``Peter'' Gee Fremont, CA
8/31/00 Kim ``Richard'' Gee California
11/11/02 Kin Wah Gee Oakland, CA 9 months jail
9/11/02 $20,000 fine
3 years probation
8/31/00 Kin ``Peter'' Gee San Francisco, CA
9/10/99
9/29/03 Phillip Christopher Green, 38 Brighton, Victoria, AU 7 months jail - suspended
$AU5,000 fine
3 year/$AU500 good behaviour bond
9/11/99 Kong Yuan Li, 35 Oakland, CA
9/10/99
9/10/99 Zhi Li San Francisco, CA
11/16/01 Lisa Ha San Mateo, CA
9/11/99 Mei Mei Hoang, 42 California
12/12/96 Ru Feng Huang, 37 San Francisco, CA 120 days jail
8/02/95 $8,000 fine
4/25/99 Sou Jin Ma Petaluma, CA $7,500 fine
11/16/01 Keng Man Ha San Mateo, CA
2/16/01 Yao Shao Huang, 28 San Francisco, CA Convicted on 2 counts of
9/11/99 illegal abalone sales
9/11/99
9/10/99
9/10/99
6/03/00 Van Howard ``Hojo'' Johnson, 28 San Diego, CA 3 years prison
12/08/96 $50,000 fine
9/11/96
9/07/96
9/07/96
7/13/96
6/07/96
5/30/96
5/30/96
5/30/96
5/29/96
5/28/96
5/24/96
5/23/96
5/22/96
5/21/96
5/09/96
5/08/96
5/07/96
5/03/96
5/01/96
4/30/96
4/29/96
3/09/96
2/29/96
2/07/96
2/07/96
2/06/96
1/31/96
1/30/96
1/29/96
1/26/96
1/06/96
12/08/95
12/06/95
12/02/95
5/06/95
5/05/95
2/12/95
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
6/03/00 Michael Kagley, 39 Santa Rosa, CA 3 years probation
12/08/96
9/11/96
7/24/96
7/13/96
6/05/96
5/30/96
5/29/96
5/24/96
5/21/96
5/09/96
5/08/96
5/07/96
5/03/96
4/29/96
3/09/96
2/29/96
2/07/96
1/31/96
1/30/96
9/15/95
8/09/95
5/06/95
5/05/95
2/12/95
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
10/22/99 Ninh The Khongn, 29 Sacramento, CA 45 days jail
$1,250 fine
3 years probation
barred from fishing during probation
banned from Sonoma, Mendocino & Humboldt coastline
forfeiture of dive gear
4/12/02 Hyon Suk Kim, 45 San Francisco, CA $21,375 fine
probation
forfeit Toyota 4-Runner
lifetime loss of fishing privileges
4/12/02 Yong Hoe Kim, 51 San Francisco, CA $21,375 fine
probation
forfeit Toyota 4-Runner
lifetime loss of fishing privileges
6/30/96 Kin Lai, 41 Windsor, CA $7,500 fine
4/03/96 100 hours community service
12/06/95
2/28/95
2/12/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
6/30/96 Sally Lau Lai, 36 Windsor, CA $5,000 fine
4/03/96 100 hours community service
12/06/95
2/28/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
8/30/02 Dung Le, 24 Santa Rosa, CA
3/08/03 Son Van Le, 38 Olivehurst, CA $30,000 fine
5/31/01 lifetime forfeiture of fishing privileges
5 years probation
5/26/00 Bronson Le Sacramento, CA 9 months jail
3 years probation
loss of fishing privileges
5/26/00 Cong Le Sacramento, CA 2 months jail
3 years probation
loss of fishing privileges
11/07/96 Jason Le, 25 San Francisco, CA 4 months jail
9/07/96 $10,000 fine
9/07/96 3 years probation
6/21/96
6/07/96
5/26/00 Minh Le Sacramento, CA 9 months jail
3 years probation
loss of fishing privileges
11/07/96 Steven Van Phe Le, 20 San Francisco, CA 4 months jail
9/07/96 $10,000 fine
9/07/96 3 years probation
6/21/96
6/07/96
11/07/96 Tat Xuong Le, 39 San Francisco, CA 4 months jail
9/07/96 $8,000 fine
9/07/96 3 years probation
6/21/96
6/07/96
7/14/95 Thai Phat Le, 37 Oakland, CA
9/07/96 Xuong Man Le, 42 San Francisco, CA 45 days jail/work furlough
9/07/96 $5,000 fine
6/21/96
6/07/96
7/14/95 Lam A. Lee, 37 Sacramento, CA
9/29/03 Dale Anthony Lester, 26 Torquay, Victoria, AU 7 months jail - suspended
$AU15,000 fine
3 years good behaviour bond
9/11/99 Zhi Hua Li, 37 San Francisco, CA
9/11/99
9/10/99
5/18/02 Bill Liang San Francisco, CA
12/13/99 Tat Sang Loo Melbourne, Australia
11/05/94 Nhat Lu, 36 Oakland, CA
2/16/01 Zhen Guo Lu, 32 San Francisco, CA Convicted of 2 counts of illegal abalone sales
9/10/99
9/11/99 Phuc Ky Luong, 39 Oakland, CA
9/10/99
10/08/02 Duong A. Luu Oakland, CA 3 years prison
8/30/02
8/31/00
6/02/00 Duong ``Tom'' Luu California
6/01/00 Phuong Hue Ly California
6/01/00 Thanh Han Ly California
6/01/00 Hung Mach California
5/31/01 Melisa Ann Mendoza, 26 Ukiah, CA
1/30/96 Jerry Wade Mitchell 1 year
1/29/96 $12,000 fine
2/08/95 5 years probation
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
10/01/94
11/16/01 Phillip W. Murphy Novato, CA
1/30/96 Darren Frank Natman 60 days
1/29/96 Daren Natman $10,000 fine
5/06/95 5 years probation
2/08/95
11/01/94
10/01/94
5/18/02 Kay Yuen Ng San Francisco, CA
7/01/99 Nam Huu Ngo, 23 Santa Rosa, CA $3,000 fine
5/18/99 100 hours community service
10/30/98
10/17/98
9/07/96 Phoi Thi Nguen, 39 San Francisco, CA 20 days jail/work furlough
9/07/96 $5,000 fine
6/21/96
6/07/96
7/01/99 Doanh Thi Nguyen, 44 Santa Rosa, CA 60 days jail
7/01/99 $5,000 fine
5/18/99 100 hours community service
10/30/98 forfeit 1995 van
10/17/98
10/22/99 Hung Van Nguyen, 26 Sacramento, CA 30 days jail
$2,000 fine
3 years probation
barred from fishing during probation
banned from Sonoma, Mendocino & Humboldt coastline
forfeiture of dive gear
12/06/03 Kent True Nguyen San Francisco, CA 10 days jail
$15,000 fine
5 years probation
barred from fishing during probation
10/22/99 My Van Nguyen, 35 Sacramento, CA 30 days jail
$2,000 fine
3 years probation
barred from fishing during probation
banned from Sonoma, Mendocino & Humboldt coastline
forfeiture of dive gear
10/22/99 Nhat Van Nguyen, 32 Sacramento, CA 30 days jail
$2,000 fine
3 years probation
barred from fishing during probation
banned from Sonoma, Mendocino & Humboldt coastline
forfeiture of dive gear
8/24/01 Chingpin Ou, 34 San Francisco, CA 6 months jail
7/11/01 $10,000 fine
6/02/00 forfeit BMW
8/31/00
9/11/99 Randy Ou, 49 San Francisco, CA
9/10/99
6/30/96 Xioa Yuan Pang, 42 Santa Rosa, CA $5,000 fine
4/03/96 100 hours community service
12/06/95
2/28/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
6/30/96 Yick Wan Pang, 51 Santa Rosa, CA $5,000 fine
4/03/96 100 hours community service
12/06/95
2/28/95
11/01/94
10/13/94
3/20/96 Huong Pham, 40 Santa Rosa, CA
8/24/01 Sau Van Pham San Francisco, CA 3 months jail
8/09/01 $10,000 fine
7/11/01 3 years probation
6/02/00
8/31/00
6/02/00
9/10/99 Cuong Phan Phan Oakland, CA
11/09/95 Lan Van Phan San Francisco, CA $300
1 year ban from Sonoma Coast
6/01/00 Ha Phung California
9/11/99 Binh Le Phung, 42 San Francisco, CA
9/10/99
9/11/99 Huen To Quyen, 43 Piedmont, CA
9/10/99
8/30/02 John Quinliven, 26 Ukiah, CA
1/31/03 Atticus Reynolds, 24 Cloverdale, CA 3 years probation
12/21/02 banned from the coast
5/18/02 barred from possessing diving gear
barred from possessing fishing license
6/21/02 Joel Roberts, 37 Santa Cruz, CA 3 years prison
1/23/02
4/10/01
12/22/00
12/19/00
12/09/00