Florida Fisherman Faces Life in Prison for Costly Catch

*(Courtesy of the Outdoor Hub)

A commercial fisherman in Florida made a costly mistake that could land him in prison for life.

Thomas Breeding, a 32-year-old boat captain, was out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico when he came across a mysterious package floating in the water. Inside the package was 45 pounds of cocaine. Breeding reportedly said he knew the right thing was to turn it over to the police, but Breeding decided to go a different route.

Instead of doing what he knew was right, Breeding gave the package – worth $500,000 to $620,000 on the street, says AL.com – to four other individuals to distribute. They sold the drugs and paid Breeding a cut of the money, but they weren’t out of the woods just yet.

Authorities weren’t far behind Breeding and his scheme, as they unraveled the whole deal and charged all five men involved with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Breeding was also found with a gun in his car, and would be charged for illegally transporting a firearm. He will face a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4.25 million fine. He offered the following caution to others not to follow in his footsteps:

“I would like to let the public know the dangers and what not to do if this situation comes about,” said Breeding, who is to be sentenced Feb. 16. “This changed my life and way of thinking, and also made me aware of some of the dangers that can be found off-shore.”