Chula Vista Man Guilty of Abalone Importation
A Chula Vista resident has pleaded guilty to illegally importing $3 million of abalone, federal authorities announced today.
Yon Pon Wong, 65, doing business as Lucky Company, admitted to importing the abalone using commercial invoices that falsely identified the seller.
The 43 importations occurred between February of 2012, and July of 2015, and involved a total of approximately 67,500 kilograms (148,500 pounds) of abalone.
The invoices falsely stated the seller to be Exportadora De Mariscos De Mexico, SA de CV, at the false address of Calle Cubilete No 110, Fracc Capistrano, Tijuana, Mexico.
As part of his plea, Wong agreed to forfeit $500,000 of proceeds of the illegal importation.
Abalone is a highly regulated fishery in Mexico, and the laws of Mexico require that commercial invoices have sufficient information on them to allow tracking of the seafood to its lawful origin.
“NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement is committed to the prevention, deterrence, and elimination of illegal trafficking of marine species,” said James Landon, Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement.
Wong was ordered to appear before U.S. District Court Judge Larry A. Burns on November 20, 2017, at 9:00 am for sentencing.
Defendant: Yon Pon Wong, Age: 65, Chula Vista, California
Criminal Charges: False Labeling, 16 U.S.C. § 3372(d)(1) and 3373(d)(3)(A)(i)
Maximum penalty: 5 years’ prison, fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the offense, restitution, forfeiture of proceeds generated from the, three years of supervised release.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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