Tribe members convicted of illegal fishing

MANISTIQUE, Mich. (AP) – Three members of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians have been convicted of running an illegal commercial fishing operation on Lake Michigan's Little Bay de Noc.
Brothers Andrew, Kevin and John Schwartz of Rapid River were found guilty of 79 violations Friday in tribal court in Manistique.
They were ordered to pay $13,175 in fines and costs and had their fishing licenses permanently revoked.
A tribal news release says the brothers took thousands of pounds of fish from the bay and sold it through a tribal operation and a state-licensed wholesaler.
The Daily Press of Escanaba says the charges arose from an investigation by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
–––
Information from: Daily Press of Escanaba,
http://www.dailypress.net