Feds bust coral smuggler in NYC area

[prattreef]

Did not know about the cites prat. What does that mean for local hobbiest? Are our livestock considered illegal?

Corals that are imported legally i.e. with proper CITES and other permits are legal. They can then be resold/traded legally. Any illegally imported species are still illegal, though in reality no one is going after hobbyists directly if they own a piece or 2 -- it is importation they care most about.

This is why the recent proposal to add numerous coral species to the Endangered Species list ( which is different than CITES is potentially a really big thing for the hobby. Those species would be illegal to not only import, but to sell or trade within the country-- I think you could still own if you had them already.

 

[Silkyslim]

Thanks for the incite Pratt.

 

[islandreef]

NEW YORK ? A New York man who pleaded guilty in March to smuggling protected ocean coral has been sentenced to serve one year and one day in prison.

Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service say Joseph Russo was sentenced Friday in Manhattan federal court and also ordered to pay $523,835 in restitution, a $6,000 fine and be subject to three years of supervised probation.

Authorities say their investigation determined that Russo illegally imported 16,000 pieces of live stony corals from foreign suppliers between 2007 and 2012.

Russo, who owns a marine supplier in West Haverstraw, did not return a call for comment. His attorney also did not immediately return a call for comment.

Corals are live animals that live in oceans and are important parts of the ecosystem

Thats not enough time or fines for him,,, he knew what he was doing,,Trust me he took a summer off to go over there and set up for this yr...Sucks for him....he was a NASTY son of a GUN.!!!!