Two fishermen stepped in front of a...
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Two fishermen stepped in front of a crowd of several hundred people to accept checks for winning the first professional bass tournament of the season in Louisiana and instead were arrested for cheating.
Richard Cavagnaro, 34, and Austin Sale, 29, both of New Iberia, La., thought they each would take home a check for $1,000, but soon learned they were to spend the night in jail on charges of theft by fraud. The two were released on bond of $1,500 apiece and face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $3,000 each.
State Wildlife & Fisheries officials said the pair caught the fish before Sunday’s U.S. Bass South-central Louisiana Team Tournament and kept them alive in captivity in the marsh.
Many of the 73 other teams--who paid $70 each to enter the contest--cheered as the two were taken away.
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