# Two Florida business owners face third-degree felony charges for spreading 1,500 mothballs
*Propietarios de un hotel y bar fueron acusados después de que se descubriera que dispersaron pesticidas tóxicos para ahuyentar a las aves playeras.*

- Medio: Orlando Ledger News (https://orlandoledgernews.com)
- URL: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/dos-duenos-de-negocios-en-florida-enfrentan-cargos-por-esparcir-1500-naftalinas
- Sección: Justice
- Autor: Orlando Ledger News Staff
- Publicado: 2026-08-09T07:04:48.173Z
> Owners of a hotel and bar in Florida were charged after dispersing toxic pesticides on the beach to deter nesting shorebirds. The action sparked strong community backlash.

## Las claves

- The two business owners face third-degree felony charges for spreading 1500 toxic mothballs to prevent endangered birds from nesting.
- This incident occurred at St. Pete Beach near St. Petersburg starting in late April when visitors noticed the scattered white balls.
- The disturbance delays black skimmer nesting, putting chicks at risk before hurricane season ends while the owners await trial on bond.

Two business owners on the Florida coast have been charged with third-degree felony offenses after it was discovered that they spread approximately 1,500 toxic mothballs on a beach. The action was carried out with the specific goal of preventing an endangered bird species from nesting in the area where their commercial establishments operate.

### The investigation and charges

The incident began at the end of April, when visitors noticed small white balls with a strong odor scattered on the white sand of St. Pete Beach, near St. Petersburg. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and volunteers from the Audubon Society began collecting the mothballs behind the Plaza Beach Hotel. However, 500 more balls appeared the following day.

Authorities confirmed that the men were identified thanks to video surveillance footage, cell tower data, and incriminating text messages between Christopher Monroe, owner of Chris’s Beachside Bar, and Robert Czyszczon, owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel. Both face charges for illegal dumping, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of $5,000.

### Financial motivation and environmental impact

According to authorities, the motivation behind the act was fear of losing income. The owners believed that the presence of nests would reduce the number of customers at their businesses, as we reported in [Florida Man Charged With Murder After Allegedly Hired by UK Woman](/noticia/florida-man-charged-with-murder-after-allegedly-hired-by-uk-woman). In intercepted messages, one wrote: "Why didn't you tell me we were losing $25,000 to $50,000?"

The action directly affected shorebirds known as black skimmers, a protected species in Florida. Although FWC officers indicated that the birds likely did not suffer physical injury from direct contact, the disturbance delayed their nesting process. This delay puts chicks at greater risk before the end of hurricane season, as a major storm could wipe out the entire colony if the young have not yet flown.

### Public safety concerns

Beyond the ecological impact, the spreading of pesticides in an area accessible to the public generated immediate concern. Mothballs contain chemicals that can harm people and other animals if they come into contact with their vapors. The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has previously emphasized that any use of pesticides must strictly follow legal labeling.

Currently, Czyszczon and Monroe are free on bond while awaiting trial. This case has generated a strong public reaction in the local community, highlighting the tension between tourist commercial interests and the conservation of native wildlife on Florida beaches.
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Fuente original: https://orlandoledgernews.com/noticia/dos-duenos-de-negocios-en-florida-enfrentan-cargos-por-esparcir-1500-naftalinas