US Fish and Wildlife alerts public of fugitive who sells killer fish

[caption id="attachment_12224" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Piranha - wikimedia commons"][/caption]

Editor - A serious threat to both wildlife and humans are certain fish like the piranha and stingray, and there is a fugitive alert for man who has been trafficking in these the public is asked to report.

Special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are asking the public's help  Isaac Zimmerman, 61 of West Hills, who failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing on July 12 related to his trafficking illegally in the sales of exotic fish like the piranha and fresh water sting rays.

These fish are known to be dangerous to other fish and also to humans.   Although piranha are not naturally meat eaters, they are known to attack
humans viciously and other wildlife four times their size.  Stingrays are poisonous fish as well and their wounds are said to be painful and
debilitating.

Zimmerman has been charged with multiple offenses involving the smuggling and trafficking of dangerous wildlife, protected species of fish.

Federal agents believe that Zimerman will attempt to leave the United States, if he has not done so already.

Zimerman; his Hawthorne-based company, River Wonders; and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles in August 2009.

In May 2010, the three defendants were named in a 13-count superseding indictment that specifically accuses Zimerman of conspiracy, illegal
fish trafficking, smuggling fish into the United States, falsifying documents, obstructing an investigation by the Fish and Wildlife
Service, making false statements to the Fish and Wildlife Service, smuggling fish out of the United States, and smuggling fish out of the
United States while free on bond in this case. Most of the 13 felony counts in the indictment carry statutory maximum sentences of five years
in federal prison.

The indictment alleges that Zimerman illegally imported and sold live piranha and fresh water stingrays. It is illegal to possess or sell live
piranhas and fresh water stingrays in California and across most of the southern United States. Both are considered invasive species that could
become established and pose a threat to humans and to native species if intentionally or accidentally released into the temperate waters of
states with warm climates. The indictment also alleges that he illegally imported and exported arapaima (Arapaima gigas), a fish protected by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

In addition to River Wonders, Zimerman owns Da Tien Pets in Gardena, California. He uses both companies to sell, import and export live fish
and some reptiles for the pet trade.

Zimerman’s wife, Leonore Catalina Zimerman, pleaded guilty in June to illegal fish trafficking and is scheduled to be sentenced in United States District
Court on September 20.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward to anyone who provides information leading to Zimerman’s arrest. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is encouraged to contact the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in Los Angeles at 310-678-4901 and ask to speak to the duty agent.