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: 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; 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.
