Human trafficking has been a hot topic in the news lately which draws a lot of attention to the issue and opens the eyes of the majority of the public that had no idea how common it is.
What this man in New York got busted for is not common but is still an important issue that needs to be dealt with.
Joshua Seguine has been convicted of trafficking live sharks which he kept in an above-ground pool in his own backyard. New York Attorney General Letitia James said Seguine pled guilty to the illegal commercialization of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and wildlife with the intent to sell seven sandbar sharks, which happen to be a protected species in the state of New York.
Authorities first became suspicious of Seguine back in July of 2017 when he was found to be driving without a license in Georgia and they discovered five small sharks in a large tank in the back of his truck.
Seguine admitted to authorities that he was transporting the sharks to New York to sell them and that he had more live sharks at his house. According to the Attorney General’s office, Seguine also operated a website called MonsterFishKeepers.com where he conducted his business under the name Aquatic Apex Life LLC.
Authorities later served a search warrant of his home where they found 7 live sharks in a pool in his backyard along with 2 dead leopard sharks, one dead hammerhead shark, and the snout of a smalltooth sawfish, which is also an endangered species.
The remaining live sharks were safely moved to the New York Aquarum at Coney Island and Seguine was fined $5,000.
