Wisconsin bait farmer sentenced to probation for illegally importing fish
By APThursday, December 31, 2009
Wis. bait farmer sentenced for illegal importation
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin bait farming business that pleaded guilty to illegally importing fish has been sentenced to probation.
Gollon Bait & Fish Farm was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation, fined $6,000 and ordered to pay the cost of additional monitoring of the health of bait fish by U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb.
The business pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 29.
Federal prosecutors said Gollon received nearly $1.5 million in bait fish from companies in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Arkansas without acquiring the necessary permits or certificates showing they were disease-free.
Two other Wisconsin bait companies that pleaded guilty were to be sentenced on Thursday and another was to be sentenced Jan. 8.
