Florida wildlife officials arrested two men on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in connection with the scattering of over 1,000 toxic mothballs on St. Pete Beach.
The investigation began on April 20, when officers and volunteers found approximately 1,000 mothballs in a nesting area behind the Plaza Beach Hotel.
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The next day, another 500 mothballs were discovered on the same stretch of beach.
Charges and Investigation
Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel, and Christopher Monroe, owner of Chris' Beachside Bar, face one felony count of commercial littering for economic gain and one misdemeanor count of attempting to take a state-listed threatened species through harassment.
Investigators used surveillance footage, Walmart purchase records, cell phone location data, and text messages to link the suspects to the chemical placement.
The messages revealed concerns that nesting black skimmers were affecting hotel revenues.
Major Evan Laskowski, FWC Southwest regional commander, said the mothballs were likely intended to deter the skimmers from nesting behind the hotel.
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State officials stressed that chemical hazards pose severe threats to coastal habitats and imperiled species. Laskowski noted that disrupting nesting routines can have long-term impacts on shorebird populations.
Captain David DeLaRosa said the case was built on solid evidence, including multiple search warrants and terabytes of digital data.
Pinellas County hosts about 10% of Florida's remaining black skimmer population.
Despite the disturbance, volunteers cleared the mothballs, and the colony returned to nest safely later in the season.
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The City of St. Pete Beach released a statement supporting the enforcement actions, citing zero tolerance for criminal activity that threatens wildlife or public safety.
