LOS ANGELES
A Pomona man and his food wholesale company have pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to smuggle Chinese frozen roasted eel for human consumption, which had been previously refused entry into the United States, federal authorities announced Monday.
Kevin Sheng Hsiang Fang, 41, and Fang’s City of Industry-based food wholesale business, Yong Chang Trading Co., Ltd. (dba Heng Xing Foods, Inc.), each plead guilty May 31 to one count of smuggling and one count of introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce.
Fang was a high-volume Chinese frozen roasted eel importer, commonly known as unagi.
The criminal case stems from a shipment of Fang’s imported Chinese frozen roasted eel that was sample tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and found unsafe for human consumption, prompting the FDA to refuse its entry into the United States.
Fang admitted that he knowingly re-imported the previously refused Chinese frozen roasted eel, using new entry information and comingled with other eels to evade detection.
When he pleaded guilty, Fang admitted that the Chinese frozen roasted eel which he tried to import and distribute was adulterated with Gentian Violet, Leucogentian Violet and Malachite Green, unsafe new animal drugs.
The use of these antibiotics or chemicals during various stages of aqua-cultured food can result in the presence of residues of the parent compound or its metabolites in the edible portion of the aqua-cultured seafood.
The presence of antibiotic residues may contribute to an increase in antimicrobial resistance in human pathogens, according to an FDA alert.
Moreover, prolonged exposure to Malachite Green and Gentian Violet has been shown to have a carcinogenic effect.
“Today’s announcement serves as a reminder that food importers have a critical responsibility to sell food that is safe for American consumers to eat,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office.
“This individual showed complete disregard for the health and safety of the U.S. consumer by knowingly bringing tainted products into the market,” said Eddy Wang, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge.
Fang is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug.14 by U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson. As a result of his guilty pleas, Fang faces up to 21 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the FDA, Office of Criminal Investigations; Homeland Security Investigations; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Amanda M. Bettinelli of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section is prosecuting the case.