On February 18th, 2016, owners and employees of Tradewinds of Depoe Bay, Inc. plead guilty to Felony Racketeering charges stemming from an Oregon State Police investigation that began in 2012 and resulted in the execution of search warrants at the Depoe Bay fishing charter business in March 2015.
The investigation determined Tradewinds of Depoe Bay charged customers for daily angling licenses and instead of issuing a handwritten 1-day angling license, would provide the customer with a register receipt. This enabled Tradewinds of Depoe Bay retain the angling license revenue for the licenses that weren't issued.
In addition to the Racketeering charges, the company owners/employees Tim Harmon, Julie Harmon, and Eva Harmon each pled guilty to Assisting Another in Violation of Wildlife Laws which is a Class A Misdemeanor. Charges against the remaining employees of Tradewinds of Depoe Bay and the charter boat captains charged in the case were dismissed.
The penalties from these convictions issued by the Lincoln County Circuit Court are as follows:
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $45,000 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $48,172.88 to the Oregon State Police for investigation and prosecution.
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $16.75 to those Tradewinds customers who purchased licenses that were not issued from April 2012 through March 2015.
* Tim Harmon to pay court fines of $3,500
* Julie Harmon to pay court fines of $3,500
* Eva Harmon to pay court fines of $3,000
* Each of the Harmon's will be sentenced to bench probation of 5 years with the following conditions:
o Tim Harmon will sell Tradewinds of Depoe Bay and associated property located at 118 US 101, Depoe Bay, Oregon to an independent third party for a reasonable and fair market value
o After the sale of the company, Tim Harmon, Julie Harmon or Eva Harmon will have no involvement with Tradewinds or any successor company and will have no ownership interest in any Oregon charter fishing industry business.
Customers of Tradewinds of Depoe Bay who purchased a daily Oregon angling license between the dates of April 2012 through March 2015 who did not receive an actual ODFW license who wish to receive restitution should contact the Lincoln County District Attorney Victim's Assistance Department at (541)563-3462 to make a restitution claim by May 1, 2016
***End Release***
Previous Release:
Oregon State Police Troopers from the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division along with the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office received grand jury indictments stemming from an ongoing investigation into activities by the Tradewinds of Depoe Bay Charter Company.
In March of 2015, the Oregon State Police executed a search warrant on the company's premises. The company was under investigation for a variety of theft charges based on various allegations. This included allegations the company had charged customers for daily angling licenses but never purchased these licenses from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife nor provided an actual license to customers.
On July 2, 2015, the company owners, employees and some of the charter boat captains were indicted by a grand jury on the following felony and misdemeanor charges:
Tim HARMON, age 67 (of Lake Oswego), Julie HARMON, age 52 (of Lake Oswego), Eva HARMON, age 24 (of Lincoln City), Noelie ACHEN, age 30 (of Depoe Bay) and Dustin COUCH, age 30 (of Depoe Bay) were all indicted for Racketeering - 2 counts, Theft in the First Degree - 4 counts, Aggravated Theft in the First Degree - 2 counts, Conspiracy to Commit Theft in the First Degree - 4 counts, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Theft in the First Degree - 2 counts, Failure to Remit Moneys from License Sales, Conspiracy of Failure to Remit Moneys from License Sales, Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws, and Conspiracy in Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws.
Bradley HAIGHT, age 48 (of Depoe Bay), Craig CALKINS, age 45 (of Depoe Bay), Daniel ZIMMERMAN, age 60 (of Depoe Bay), Richard NEWTON, age 67 (of Depoe Bay), and Roman SMOLCIC, age 31(of Lincoln County) were indicted for Racketeering - 2 counts, Conspiracy in Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws, and Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws - multiple counts.
On July 8th and July 9th, all above subjects were arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation and any inquiries should be made to the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office. If someone feels they have any information on this investigation or similar incidents they are urged to contact the Oregon State Police - Newport Area Command at 541-265-5354.
The investigation determined Tradewinds of Depoe Bay charged customers for daily angling licenses and instead of issuing a handwritten 1-day angling license, would provide the customer with a register receipt. This enabled Tradewinds of Depoe Bay retain the angling license revenue for the licenses that weren't issued.
In addition to the Racketeering charges, the company owners/employees Tim Harmon, Julie Harmon, and Eva Harmon each pled guilty to Assisting Another in Violation of Wildlife Laws which is a Class A Misdemeanor. Charges against the remaining employees of Tradewinds of Depoe Bay and the charter boat captains charged in the case were dismissed.
The penalties from these convictions issued by the Lincoln County Circuit Court are as follows:
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $45,000 to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $48,172.88 to the Oregon State Police for investigation and prosecution.
* Tradewinds of Depoe Bay to pay restitution in the amount of $16.75 to those Tradewinds customers who purchased licenses that were not issued from April 2012 through March 2015.
* Tim Harmon to pay court fines of $3,500
* Julie Harmon to pay court fines of $3,500
* Eva Harmon to pay court fines of $3,000
* Each of the Harmon's will be sentenced to bench probation of 5 years with the following conditions:
o Tim Harmon will sell Tradewinds of Depoe Bay and associated property located at 118 US 101, Depoe Bay, Oregon to an independent third party for a reasonable and fair market value
o After the sale of the company, Tim Harmon, Julie Harmon or Eva Harmon will have no involvement with Tradewinds or any successor company and will have no ownership interest in any Oregon charter fishing industry business.
Customers of Tradewinds of Depoe Bay who purchased a daily Oregon angling license between the dates of April 2012 through March 2015 who did not receive an actual ODFW license who wish to receive restitution should contact the Lincoln County District Attorney Victim's Assistance Department at (541)563-3462 to make a restitution claim by May 1, 2016
***End Release***
Previous Release:
Oregon State Police Troopers from the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division along with the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office received grand jury indictments stemming from an ongoing investigation into activities by the Tradewinds of Depoe Bay Charter Company.
In March of 2015, the Oregon State Police executed a search warrant on the company's premises. The company was under investigation for a variety of theft charges based on various allegations. This included allegations the company had charged customers for daily angling licenses but never purchased these licenses from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife nor provided an actual license to customers.
On July 2, 2015, the company owners, employees and some of the charter boat captains were indicted by a grand jury on the following felony and misdemeanor charges:
Tim HARMON, age 67 (of Lake Oswego), Julie HARMON, age 52 (of Lake Oswego), Eva HARMON, age 24 (of Lincoln City), Noelie ACHEN, age 30 (of Depoe Bay) and Dustin COUCH, age 30 (of Depoe Bay) were all indicted for Racketeering - 2 counts, Theft in the First Degree - 4 counts, Aggravated Theft in the First Degree - 2 counts, Conspiracy to Commit Theft in the First Degree - 4 counts, Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Theft in the First Degree - 2 counts, Failure to Remit Moneys from License Sales, Conspiracy of Failure to Remit Moneys from License Sales, Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws, and Conspiracy in Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws.
Bradley HAIGHT, age 48 (of Depoe Bay), Craig CALKINS, age 45 (of Depoe Bay), Daniel ZIMMERMAN, age 60 (of Depoe Bay), Richard NEWTON, age 67 (of Depoe Bay), and Roman SMOLCIC, age 31(of Lincoln County) were indicted for Racketeering - 2 counts, Conspiracy in Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws, and Assisting Another to Violate Oregon Wildlife Laws - multiple counts.
On July 8th and July 9th, all above subjects were arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation and any inquiries should be made to the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office. If someone feels they have any information on this investigation or similar incidents they are urged to contact the Oregon State Police - Newport Area Command at 541-265-5354.