A Chula Vista businessman has been fined and placed on probation in association with a seafood business that illegally imported sea cucumbers from Mexico into the U.S.
Ramon Torres Mayorquin, 77, is an executive with the company, Blessings, Inc., which is located in Tucson, Arizona, and his son, David Mayorquin, 41, is the owner.
Ramon Mayorquin lives in Chula Vista and his son lives in Tucson.
U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez fined David Mayorquin $973,490 and ordered him to pay $40,000 in restitution to the government of Mexico. Ramon Mayorquin was fined $1,000, and both men were placed on probation with no jail time imposed.
The firm itself was placed on five years probation and agreed to forfeit $237,879 in proceeds from the offense. Benitez directed that half of the $973,490 fine be deposited in the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Fund, with the other half in the Lacey Act Rewards Fund.
Sea cucumbers are found on the ocean floor. In some parts of the world, sea cucumbers are sought after as a delicacy, medicine, and aphrodisiac. Increased demand of sea cucumbers have resulted in illegal trade of this species.
“Illegal trafficking in fish and wildlife is big business,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman last week.
“This case demonstrates our commitment to work together with our law enforcement partners to prosecute such criminals and take away their unlawful profits,” said Braverman.
Ramon Mayorquin pleaded guilty to illegally importing sea cucumbers into the U.S. from Mexico with documents containing false information about where they came from. David Mayorquin pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors of unlawful importation of wildlife.
The company pleaded guilty to conspiracy to import sea cucumbers contrary to law.
Ramon Mayorquin arranged for importation of the sea cucumbers into the U.S. through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry with the vendor’s source listed with a fake address, according to court documents. Ramon Mayorquin could have faced a maximum 20 years in federal prison, although Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Pierson recommended no jail time with probation.
David Mayorquin could have been sentenced to one year in jail and the company could have been fined $500,000.
The Lacey Act Reward account was established to accept any fine, penalty, or forfeiture of money collected for offenses involving endangered species. The Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation fund is used for rewards to those who provide info about offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Sea cucumbers act as filters in keeping the ocean floor free of organic matter that could lead to algae blooms. Sea cucumbers help protect coral reefs because they excrete calcium carbonate, a key building block of coral, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“A large overseas demand for sea cucumbers harvested in Mexico has ruled an increase in illicit importation schemes uncovered at commercial ports of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border,” said Dave Shaw, special agent in charge for Homeland Security investigations in San Diego.
“This investigation underscores Homeland Security commitment to ensuring U.S.trade laws are not exploited by those seeking financial gain,” said Shaw.
Edward Grace, the acting assistant director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, said the agency is “committed to working with others to protect at-risk species, like sea cucumbers.”
The May, 2017, indictment alleged that Ramon Mayorquin created false invoices to submit to U.S. Customs officials while knowing the sea cucumbers had been illegally harvested, sold and transported. The sales lacked the required paperwork under Mexican law.
The false sales invoices submitted to U.S. Customs claimed that Ramon Mayorquin was the supplier of the sea cucumbers to Blessings, Inc. from a non-existent address in Mexico.
Mexican law requires the lawful origin of fisheries product be documented by means of permits for arrival, harvest, and production. All fisheries products sold in Mexico must be traceable to its lawful origins.
