🔥 Trending St. Pete Beach Mothball Scheme: Business Owners Arrested

The "mothball scheme" in St. Pete refers to a recent incident where thousands of mothballs were deliberately scattered on St. Pete Beach, Florida, in an attempt to deter a threatened bird species from nesting ¹². This act led to the arrest of two individuals, a hotel owner and a bar owner, who are accused of orchestrating the plan ¹⁷.

Details of the Incident

The investigation into the incident began on April 20, 2026, when officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) responded to reports of mothballs found behind the Plaza Beach Hotel on St. Pete Beach ⁴⁷. Volunteers from the Audubon Society and concerned beachgoers assisted FWC officers in removing the mothballs, which posed significant risks to wildlife ⁴.

Accused Individuals and Charges

The two men arrested in connection with the scheme are:

• Rob Czyszczon: Owner of the Plaza Beach Hotel ⁶¹.
• George "Joe" B. Gordon: Owner of the Undertow Beach Bar ¹.

They face charges including commercial littering and wildlife harassment ⁵. The arrests were made on July 29, 2026 ³⁵.

Motivation Behind the Scheme

Investigators allege that the motive behind scattering the mothballs was to disrupt a vital shorebird nesting area and prevent a state-threatened bird species, specifically the black skimmer, from nesting near their properties ²⁵. The black skimmer is a protected bird species ⁵.

Environmental Impact

Mothballs are toxic and can be harmful to both wildlife and humans ²⁴. Their presence on the beach endangered protected birds and other marine life ³⁴. The FWC emphasized the risks posed by these chemicals to the local ecosystem ⁴.

This incident highlights the ongoing conflict between coastal development and wildlife conservation efforts, particularly concerning sensitive nesting habitats.