Calif. Man Sentenced In Illegal Shark Sale Case
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Northern California man has been sentenced to home detention and ordered to pay $24,000 in fines and restitution following his conviction on charges that he caught and sold undersized leopard sharks.
U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg issued the sentence against 44-year-old Dean Trinh, of Milpitas, on Tuesday. Trinh's home detention is part time and for five months.
Prosecutors say he caught leopard sharks in San Francisco Bay that were smaller than the minimum state requirement of 3 feet and then sold them to customers in Canada and Florida. He was accused of falsely claiming he had federal permits for the sharks and stating that they were 36 inches long.
Trinh pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy, fraud and violation of environmental laws.
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