ARCADIA, Fla. — Alex Figueredo Jr., 21, and Kaleb Lee Harmon, 25, were arrested on Monday for allegedly trespassing on a local farm and stealing a $1,000 arapaima fish.
The two men were charged with burglary, trespassing, and grand theft after deputies from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The incident unfolded after the farm’s property owner had requested an extra patrol due to suspicious activity earlier in the day, including a bucket and boots left abandoned on the property.
Around midnight, a deputy discovered a vehicle parked nearby, with fishing gear such as rods, lures, and a fishing net visible inside. Upon inspecting the property further, the deputy found a 28-inch long arapaima fish stored in a container near the farm’s fence line.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) confirmed that the arapaima, a species not native to Florida, is allowed for research, commercial use, and public exhibition but cannot be privately kept or exhibited.
When the two men returned to the vehicle, they were apprehended by deputies. Figueredo, from Naples, admitted to removing the fish from a greenhouse on the property after seeing it in a social media fishing group. He claimed he intended to take a picture with it but was concerned about revealing the farm’s location to others. He also confessed to breaking into the greenhouse and said he planned to return the fish after the photo.
Harmon, from Fort Myers, said he was attempting to catch a second arapaima but was unsuccessful. Both men denied seeing “no trespassing” signs posted on the property, despite several being visible near the fence.
The property owner chose to press charges, and both men were arrested. The arapaima was returned to the pond, and the men were released from DeSoto County Jail on $3,000 bond. Their arraignment is scheduled for March 3.
