CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) -- A commercial fisherman has been found guilty of making false statements about the amount of fish caught during a March 2023 fishing trip, according to federal prosecutors. 61-year-old Don Michael Rynn, who manages several commercial fishing boats in the McClella nville, was convicted by a federal jury following a three-day trial in Charleston County. "Those who attempt to circumvent federal fishing regulations and deceive law enforcement will be held accountable," said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews. "Our marine resources are vital, and we will not tolerate those who prioritize personal gain over sustainable practices and the rule of law." Prosecutors said one of Rynn's boats, the Maximum Retriever, embarked on a trip captained by his son on March 21, 2023, and returned shortly after midnight on March 27. Almost three times the legal limit of snowy grouper and one and half times the allowable number of grey tilefish were on board when it returned to the dock at Carolina Seafood, according to prosecutors. Rynn was reportedly waiting on the vessel and instructed deckhands to move fish from the ice hold of the Maximum Retriever onto a second boat, the Crystal C. Some were also reportedly taken to another seafood dealer in Georgetown. Federally-permitted commercial fishermen are required to file a report for each trip taken that includes information like dates, locations, and catch data. Prosecutors said Rynn filed the mandatory report for the March 23 trip but reported his catch only up to the limit and attributed a large number to the Crystal C, which had not caught any. ‘Big problem:’ South Carolina lawmakers want stronger penalties for derelict vessel owners A tip was sent to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, which promptly opened an investigation. Subsequently, prosecutors said Rynn disposed of the fish that were taken to Georgetown in an effort to evade law enforcement. Rynn reportedly lied to federal agents during an October 2023 interview, saying the fish were contaminated by a fuel spill which is why they were thrown in the dumpster. He also attempted to corroborate his story by implying that a U.S. Coast Guard report regarding an unlawful discharge into Jeremy Creek should have been attributed to the Crystal C. Rynn faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Judge Richard Gergel will sentence him at a later date. ...read more read less