San Francisco: A San Francisco-area pastor who pleaded guilty to helping smuggle young leopard sharks from California to aquariums in Europe and the United States has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison, the Justice Department said on Tuesday.
Kevin Thompson, 48, a Unification Church pastor in San Leandro, was one of six men charged with harvesting thousands of sharks smaller than 36 inches (91.5 cm), which are protected by law. The five others have also pleaded guilty.
In the sentencing, which took place on Monday, Thompson was also ordered to pay restitution of $100,000 (50,500). According to the indictment, about 465 leopard sharks were sold to pet distributors in the United States, the Netherlands and Britain. Leopard sharks can grow up to about 6 feet (1.83 metres).
UK: Over 50 children were sexually abused by paedophile catholic monks for decades
After Idukki diocese, Syro Malabar Catholic Church’s Thamarassery diocese screens ‘The Kerala Story’
Ghana: 63-year-old Christian priest’s marriage to a 12-year-old girl sparks outrage
MHA revokes FCRA licenses of 5 NGOs over charges including illegal religious conversions
Religious hatred, conversion and illegal foreign funding: FCRA license of ‘Jesus Redeems’ suspended
Chhattisgarh: House converted into a church, 25 tribals convert to Christianity