VIERA, Fla. (July 23, 2026) — In Defense of Animals is condemning the lenient sentencing of Luke David Michael Landry, one of four men charged with illegally killing alligators in Brevard County.

Landry withdrew his not-guilty plea and entered a plea of nolo contendere. Judge Charles G. Crawford sentenced Landry in connection with eight of the 13 alligators killed by the group, to 36 months of probation, to be served concurrently. Landry may not hunt or fish for three years. He must provide DNA, pay a fine of $750 and $553.50 in court costs.

Florida wildlife authorities charged Landry and three codefendants — Jacob Latreille, Wyatt Lowe, and Robert Martin — with multiple felonies for poaching the alligators during a series of nighttime trips along the St. Johns River near the Hatbill Park Boat Ramp. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) affidavit states that the killings occurred over three separate nights in April 2025.

Authorities allege that Latreille operated his airboat while instructing his codefendants on how to capture the alligators. Evidence of their criminal activity was documented on cellphone videos.

On April 19, seven alligators were captured and placed in the front hatch compartment of the airboat. The affidavit notes that the animals were “thrown into the front hatch,” and video footage recovered from Latreille’s phone showed multiple alligators stored on ice inside the compartment. According to the officer’s report, some of the alligators seemed to be alive; others were already dead.

Photos provided by FWC show two of the men posing with the gators’ bodies in various arrangements.

None of the four men possessed the permits or identification tags required to legally hunt alligators in Florida, including documentation required under international wildlife trade regulations such as CITES tagging.

Judge Johnathan Skinner sentenced Martin, who pleaded nolo contendere on March 17, 2026, to 18 months of supervised probation, a $750 fine, $553.50 court costs, and a $50 Public Defenders Application Fee. He is also suspended from hunting and fishing for three years.  

Lowe pleaded nolo contendere to his charges on May 7, 2026. Judge David C. Koenig handed him 18 months of probation, a $750 fine, $553.50 court costs, and suspended his hunting and fishing privileges for three years.

Latreille also pleaded nolo contendere. On May 14, Judge Clarissa Harrell handed him a 3-year hunting ban, 36 months of supervised probation, $750 in fines and $553.50 in court costs.

In Defense of Animals sent a letter with 8,904 signatures to Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Denick supporting the prosecution of Landry, Latreille, Lowe and Martin. 

“Wildlife advocates and enforcement officials recognize that light sentencing when individuals intentionally disregard conservation laws and engage in large-scale poaching is not a deterrent. Tough laws and community awareness are key in protecting wildlife. However, the sentencing handed down does not reflect the serious consequences the public would expect in this case,” said In Defense of Animals’ Justice for Animals Senior Campaigner Doll Stanley.

MEDIA CONTACT: Doll Stanley, doll@idausa.org, (662) 809-4483

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with over 250,000 supporters defending animals, the environment, and their guardians, through education, campaigns, and hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, California, and rural Mississippi, since 1983. www.idausa.org/justice4animals

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