Sushi Chefs Charged with Felonies for Marine Mammal Protection Act Violations

Two sushi restaurant chefs and the company that owns the restaurant they formerly worked for have been charged with serious felony offenses after an intensive sting operation. The chefs are accused of importing whale meat which is a violation of the Marine Mammal Protect Act. The restaurant the chefs worked for is now closed but the two Japanese Americans are facing legal action for alleged instances of purchasing Sei whale meat from a Japanese national who would obtain the meat from Japan, label it as "fatty tuna" and get it to the restaurant once it arrived from Japan. Federal investigators along with animal activists set up a sting operation which led to the recent indictment against those involved. The man responsible for delivering the whale meat to the restaurant pled guilty to illegally selling the marine mammal meat and the sushi restaurant's parent company has been fined over $1 million. The indictment against the two chefs, K.Y. and S.U., charges the pair with nine counts of felony conspiracy to import and sell a marine mammal product in incidents that reportedly occurred between 2007 and 2010. The brunt of the felony counts is on K.Y. who could spend nearly 70 years in federal prison if he is convicted. S.U. faces up to 10 years if a conviction is obtained against him. Have you been charged with committing a federal crime? Work with a criminal defense attorney skilled in handling federal cases.

Federal vs. State or Local Criminal Cases

Cases involving a suspected violation of U.S. federal laws are investigated by federal agencies which often have extensive resources for going after those accused of committing such crimes. The Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives (ATF), FBI, IRS and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are often tenacious in their investigations and prosecution and the penalties may be much more harsh. State or local authorities must often work within resource limits which may prevent them from pursuing such a zealous or harsh course of action.

Get a Strong Defense Lawyer on Your Side

Contact our highly competent team at the law offices of Martinian and Associates immediately if you are aware of being part of a federal investigation or have been accused of committing a federal offense. It is important to act swiftly in these matters with the help of an attorney knowledgeable in handling federal law cases. We may be able to help you avoid serious charges and penalties.