Florida

Two Florida Keys Residents Arrested For Illegal Trafficking of Sharks

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  • Two men living in the Florida Keys were arrested and charged with illegal trafficking of live sharks, including some to zoos in the U.S.

Two people in the Florida Keys have pleaded guilty to federal charges that they illegally sold live bonnethead sharks, including some shipped to zoos.

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that 57-year-old Phillip Gould and 51-year-old Leah Gould of Big Pine Key face up to five years in prison each on a conspiracy conviction. Sentencing is set for Oct 3.

Court documents show the Goulds bought juvenile bonnethead sharks from an unlicensed harvester who had no licenses to take the sharks. The Goulds sold the sharks around the country through their business, Florida Keys Marine Life.

Documents show that Phillip Gould personally used a rental truck in August 2012 to transport four bonnethead sharks to the St. Louis Zoo in a deal set up by a Las Vegas-based middleman.

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