N.Y. Man Pleads Guilty to Falsely Declaring Piranhas as Common Aquarium Fish
A New York man and his company pleaded guilty Jan. 29 in Eastern New York U.S. District Court to Lacey Act violations stemming from the mislabeling of imported piranhas. Joel Rakower and his wholly-owned company Transship Discounts will serve probation and pay a fine for labeling piranhas as a common aquarium fish on packing lists to avoid a New York City ban on the aggressive predator, and providing those false packing lists to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
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According to the Justice Department, Rakower bought the piranhas from a Hong Kong supplier, and imported them into New York. In March 2011, after New York City prohibited the possession of piranhas, Rakower told his foreign supplier to falsely label the piranhas on packing lists as silver tetras, a common and unaggressive aquarium fish, said the Justice Department. Over the course of 2011 and 2012, Transship submitted these false packing lists to the Fish and Wildlife Service, misidentifying 39,548 piranhas worth about $37,376. Transship later sold the piranhas to fish retailers in several states.
According to the Justice Department, Piranhas are extremely aggressive and pose a serious risk of escaping into native water systems. Although they originate in tropical waters, piranhas are able to withstand much colder water temperatures, leading to fears that they may even become established in U.S. waterways.
Under the plea agreements, Rakower will pay a $3,000 fine. Transship will serve a two-year period of probation, pay a $35,000 fine and pay $35,000 in restitution, said the Justice Department. The District Court will decide their final sentences in April.