A Florida man on Monday pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 11,000 pounds of yellowfin tuna into the United States in violation of the Lacey Act.
George A. Townsend III, 64, of St. Petersburg, Fla., faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the intended gain for his involvement in the illegal transportation of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from Trinidad and Tobago to Miami in June 2005. Sentencing has been set for June 2.
According to a Department of Justice press release, Townsend owned and operated a commercial longline fishing vessel registered in Canada as well as a business he incorporated in Canada, 3093731 Nova Scotia Ltd. Canadian law prohibits any person on board a fishing vessel from fishing or trans-shipping fish in waters other than Canadian waters, unless the vessel holds a license issued by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. Townsend did not hold the required license.
The Lacey Act prohibits the receipt, acquisition or purchase of fish that was taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of U.S. or any federal, state or tribal laws. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Miami.
