| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2009 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
SAN FRANCISCO - Bai Lin Huang was arrested yesterday for charges stemming from his alleged smuggling of Asian arowanas, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced.
The indictment, which was unsealed yesterday, alleges that over the course of several years and continuing until at least 2005, Huang, 48, brought into the United States Asian arowana from China and other parts of the Pacific Rim. Neither a valid foreign export permit nor valid import permit from the USFWS was issued for these imports. Huang then sold these fish to buyers in the United States. The indictment specifically charges that on April 8, 2005, Huang imported 26 Asian arowana contrary to law. Huang stated that the fish were Koi fish, when he knew they were Asian arowana. Huang is also charged with false statements relating to that incident as well as a Feb 3, 2005 shipment.
The Asian arowana fish, also known as Asian Boney tongue fish, is native to Indonesia and Malaysia. It is classified as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is illegal to trade in this fish without a permit.
Huang had an initial appearance yesterday in front of Chief Magistrate Judge James Larson and was released on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear on June 4 in front of District Judge Jeffrey S. White. Huang faces a maximum penalty of twenty years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for one count of smuggling, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 545 and five years imprisonment, $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release for three counts of making a false statement, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1001.
Stacey Geis is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Rayneisha Booth. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service.
Please note, an indictment contains only allegations against an individual and, as with all defendants, Mr. Huang must be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Further Information:
Case #: CR 09-0473 JSW
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