NJ seafood importer convicted(catfish for grouper)

[swimfaster02]

NJ seafood importer admits falsely labeling fish
NJ importer pleads guilty to selling Vietnamese catfish mislabeled as grouper to evade tariffs


Buzz up! 0 Print..On Wednesday January 20, 2010, 2:55 pm
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- The former chief executive of a New Jersey-based seafood importing business has admitted falsely labeling fish from Vietnam to evade more than $60 million in federal tariffs.

Sixty-one-year-old Thomas George of Old Tappan, former CEO of Cresskill-based Sterling Seafood Corp., pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Newark.

George said worked with a company based in Vietnam to import farm-raised catfish and falsely identified the fish as grouper. It was sold in fish markets and restaurants up and down the East Coast.

The U.S. imposes tariffs on Vietnamese catfish in order to protect American catfish growers.

George pleaded guilty to importing falsely labeled goods and selling misbranded fish.

He faces up to five years in prison.

[HopPocket]

" This Grouper tastes like Catfish"

Ya hear about restaurants pulling the ole bait and switch, but you never quite believe it.

This proves it.. $60 Million in tariffs, wonder how many pounds of fish that is...

[27 sailfish]

There is an old saying - a good chef can take one fish and create 5-6 different dishes from it.

Very hard to tell what type of fish it is from just a fillet or steak. Unless bought whole - buyer beware.

If the 60 million number is correct - WOW , that is a lot of cash.

[Frank G]

Interesting post. Last year we dined in a restaurant in the Annapolis area and the wife ordered the special for the evening , a grouper platter. She was absolutely certain that the fish was not grouper and tasted a lot like catfish. The waiter was adament that it was grouper and had the manager bring out the packing box labeled imported grouper . We pointed out that we had grouper often in Fl. and knew the taste and this was not grouper. He still insisted it was and blew us off as complainers.

[hippie]

Once again, crime does pay! 5 years in jail for avoiding 60 million dollars in tax.

[crabby and son]

Once again, crime does pay! 5 years in jail for avoiding 60 million dollars in tax.

I would not trade 5 years of my life for 60 million.............Gary

[wino]

My son ate grouper last night in Palm Beach Gardens and this morning he is growing whiskers.

[Maralba]

LOL, Glad it's not your daughter

[blue lou]

Besides this episode, there is rampant mislabeling of fish in restaurants and stores. Anyone who can't tell the difference between catfish and grouper needs to stick to Big Macs.