The Department of Justice, along with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, announced the indictment of Walter Schoepf, Karl Degiacomi, Culinary Specialties, Inc., of Tampa, on charges of conspiracy to sell mislabeled shrimp, false labeling of shrimp, and misbranding. According to the indictment, Schoepf and Degiacomi, the owners of Culinary Specialties, conspired with Richard Stowell, United Seafood, Inc., (United), Adrian Vela, and Sea Food Center, to violate the Lacey Act by mislabeling and selling approximately 500,000 pounds of shrimp. The shrimp, valued at more than $400,000, was ultimately sold to supermarkets in the northeastern United States.

In prior court proceedings, Stowell and United pled guilty and were sentenced on April 27, 2011 Vela and Sea Food Center also pled guilty and were sentenced on November 21, 2011.

If convicted, Schoepf and Degiacomi face a statutory maximum sentence of up to five years in prison on the conspiracy and false labeling counts of the indictment. Additionally, the defendants face a maximum statutory sentence of up to three years in prison on the misbranding count. Culinary Specialties faces fines of up to $500,000.00 per count. A trial date has not yet been set in this matter.