Hudson Valley Man Illegally Sells Sharks [PHOTOS]

LAGRANGEVILLE, NY — The Dutchess County man who was accused of illegally trafficking sandbar sharks pleaded guilty to the crime. New York Attorney General Letitia James and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced Friday that Joshua Seguine, 38, of LaGrangeville admitted he broke the law by possessing and trying to sell the animals.

Seguine pleaded guilty in the Town of LaGrange Justice Court to felony illegal commercialization of fish, shellfish, crustaceans and wildlife for the illegal possession with intent to sell seven sandbar sharks, which are protected species under New York law.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 12.

“Trafficking protected species is unlawful and ultimately harmful to the wildlife,” James said. “My office will continue to partner with DEC and use every tool at our disposal to protect vulnerable species and hold to account those who seek to profit from their suffering.”

Authorities said Seguine came to the attention of the DEC law enforcement in July 2017 when he was found to be in possession of five undersized sharks which he had in the back of his truck in Georgia.

Police said he admitted that he was taking the sharks to New York where he intended to sell them, and that he had additional live sharks at his house in Dutchess County.

Investigators found he was conducting business under the name Aquatic Apex Life LLC and had offered sharks for sale as recently as June 29, 2017, on the website MonsterFishKeepers.com.

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DEC police obtained a warrant to search Seguine's LaGrangeville home. Accompanied by biologists from the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead and the Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium in Coney Island, the officers found an above-ground pool in the basement of Seguine's house that contained seven live sandbar sharks.

Authorities said the possession of sandbar sharks is prohibited by state law without a special license.

The search also found two dead leopard sharks, a dead hammerhead shark and the snout of a smalltooth sawfish, an endangered species.

Biologists caught the sharks with nets, took blood samples, measured and tagged them and took them to the Riverhead facility in vehicle that was specially equipped with tanks, oxygen and climate control.

The animals were subsequently moved to the New York Aquarium in Coney Island where they are on display as part of the "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" exhibit.

Authorities said the cost to legally acquire a sandbar shark is about $11,500.

According to New York State, where the value of fish, shellfish, crustaceans, wildlife, or parts thereof, exceeds $1,500, the offense shall constitute a class E felony under the provisions of the penal law.

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