A Florida man who didn’t have any cash on him and tried to trade a 4-foot-long alligator for a 12-pack of beer at a local convenience store earlier this month now faces jail time.
Fernando Caignet Aguilera, 64, told officials he found the alligator at a nearby park on Dec. 10 and trapped it. Later that same day, he took the reptile to the Santa Ana Market in Miami and tried to negotiate a barter with the store clerk.
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The store employee called the police instead, and wildlife officials responded to the scene.
"I have never experienced anything like this in 25 years in law enforcement,"
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Jorge Pino told NBC Miami. "This is absolutely bizarre, I can't imagine somebody wanting to barter a live 4-foot alligator for a 12-pack of beer, it makes no sense to me."
Aguilera was issued a citation for illegally capturing and possessing the alligator and for trying to sell it, a second-degree misdemeanor. He faces up to
six months in jail and a $500 fine, according to CNN.
The gator was reportedly uninjured and animal control officials returned it to the wild.
"It was pretty much in good shape, we didn't notice any unusual conditions on it," Pino said. "This is one of the most unique cases I have handled, but nothing surprises me in the city of Miami."
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