Florida Aquarium, Employees Plead Guilty to Marine Life Trafficking

Idaho Aquarium, Inc., an Idaho corporation based in Boise, Ammon Covino, 40, formerly of Meridian, Idaho, and Christopher Conk, 40, of Middleton, Idaho, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to harvest, transport, and sell spotted eagle rays and lemon sharks, knowing the marine life were taken, possessed, transported, sold, and intended to be sold in violation of the laws and regulations of the State of Florida, contrary to the federal Lacey Act, Title 16, United States Code, Sections 3372(a)(2)(A), and 3373(d)(1) and (2), all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.

The defendants confessed to engaging in a conspiracy to purchase and transport wildlife from the Florida Keys to Idaho for exhibit at the Idaho Aquarium in Boise between March 2012 and November 2012. They directed their Florida-based suppliers to ignore the law and make the shipments, despite being aware of the requirements of the law. The business owner was cooperating with federal authorities and the phone conversations and text messages were recorded. Payment for the various specimens was made by credit cards held in the Aquarium’s name.

All three defendants acknowledged that Covino and Conk’s illegal conduct was within the scope of their employment, and intended to benefit, at least in part, the Idaho Aquarium. In a related case, Peter C. Covino, IV, the nephew of Ammon Covino, was tried, convicted, and sentenced for obstruction of justice in connection with his effort to persuade the supplier in the Florida Keys to destroy the invoices and messages related to the illegal purchases of marine life to prevent their use in Ammon Covino’s case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Watts-FitzGerald and Antonia Barnes, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho. Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, the Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and the Idaho Department of Fish & Game.

The case is a significant blow to the illicit wildlife trade, and highlights the importance of enforcing laws and regulations to protect marine life. The Idaho Aquarium and its employees have been held accountable for their actions, and will face the consequences of their crimes.

The case serves as a reminder to all individuals and organizations involved in the wildlife trade to comply with the laws and regulations in place to protect marine life. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who engage in wildlife trafficking and related crimes.

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