Jonathan Hale of Country Critters scheduled for a June Court date for illegal imports

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purebullet417

purebullet417

Rimless Reef Club
It saddens me that I have to do this but I simply can not support a store that deals in practices like this and I think its a valuable piece of information for the community to know.

-- Jonathan Hale of Country Critters of Long lsland Inc., in Patchogue, N.Y., is scheduled for a June trial at the Key West federal courthouse on charges of buying and selling live rock and corals taken from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Hale is accused of knowingly dealing with a Middle Keys company that in September 2012 supplied the mushroom coral and other species, which had been falsely labeled as overseas imports. Hale is free on $25,000 bond.

and a link to the article
http://www.keysnet.com/2014/04/05/495927/prosecutions-for-illegal-marine.html?sp=/99/106/

Any discussions?
 
I know absolutely nothing about the parties involved but please lets remember this country is largely based on the rule of law, as flawed as it is, yet a better system than almost any other country and "innocent until proven guilty" is one of its principles. I hate seeing people convicted in the press which seems to happen all the time now, before people are given their day in court.


With that being said, 'Long live Frags!', which is one of the greatest things about LIRA, buying, trading, selling, donating frags at meetings or here. While I'm happy to say all of my corals are from sustainable frags as far as I know, the original colonies the frags came from at some point down the line were from a reef somewhere. I think one of the best things we can do as reefers is to try to limit the negative impact our hobby can have on reefs and ecosystems, by buying from reputable dealers and especially buying, selling, trading frags amongst ourselves. I wish we could do the same with the fish and invertebrates we keep, maybe someday.
 
I 100% agree with the innocent until proven guilty but something must at least have proof to implicate him. And I also agree frags from fellow members are the best way to sustain the hobby.
 
It's a shame, I used to frequent this store a lot back in the day.
I'm sure he bought a lot of rock from Wheelin Willy.
Not sure how many of you knew him.
 
Apparently even most of his employees don't know have a clue about this. I spoke with one guy and his jaw dropped when i asked ohm about it. He didn't realize the was an article on it
 
Im not a country critter customer. You must have a vandetta with this store to post here. I dont feel it is right and think the moderator should take it down out of courtsey to the store owner. A LIRA reef member who owned a deli for 38 years I wouldn't appreaciate.
 
No way, this should stay up, but with one caveat...
If there is a followup to the story, it could vindicate or lambast Country Critters.

Shady practices in this hobby is exactly why boards and groups like these are here. I am sure Atlantis would not want to be associated with a company that has been indicted for criminal behavior regarding the illegal importation of protected animals. I am dead certain that LIRA would no longer keep them as a sponsor.
As most of us know, the curator of Atlantis is the President of LIRA.
Just my .2¢
 
Reef Junkie said:
No way, this should stay up, but with one caveat...
If there is a followup to the story, it could vindicate or lambast Country Critters.

Shady practices in this hobby is exactly why boards and groups like these are here.
Click to expand...

Well, maybe in part, but that doesn't give anyone here a right to play judge, jury and executioner. Nobody here knows if he's guilty of anything. Let's not forget that very important fact.
 
I had no idea either until thread was put up last week and i work there lol. Unfortunately i cant work there anymore because of the hours im working at my full time job. This upcoming meeting might be my last one for a while too. Anyway innocent until proven guilty.
 
+1 innocent until proven guilty. If you are claiming he is guilty and he's not and is indicted this thread can be construed as slander. I'm sure this business will suffer enough from the implication let alone whatever consequences come after trial.
 
Jonathan Hale of Country Critters scheduled for a June Court date for illegal import

Jonathan Hale of Country Critters scheduled for a June Court date for illegal import

purebullet417 said:
It saddens me that I have to do this but I simply can not support a store that deals in practices like this and I think its a valuable piece of information for the community to know.

-- Jonathan Hale of Country Critters of Long lsland Inc., in Patchogue, N.Y., is scheduled for a June trial at the Key West federal courthouse on charges of buying and selling live rock and corals taken from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Hale is accused of knowingly dealing with a Middle Keys company that in September 2012 supplied the mushroom coral and other species, which had been falsely labeled as overseas imports. Hale is free on $25,000 bond.

and a link to the article
http://www.keysnet.com/2014/04/05/495927/prosecutions-for-illegal-marine.html?sp=/99/106/

Any discussions?
Click to expand...

Just a thought, if this man is proven innocent, your post could be considered slander as it may cost him loss in business. Because of this you yourself could be taken to court by this man and face a law suit for it.
 
I'll fall in line and agree, but if he is guilty, then what?
Does he get a slap on the wrist and everyone turns a blind eye?
I'm not saying form a lynch mob, but don't be a sheep either.
This cannot be viewed as slander because this has come in as public knowledge and no one here has said he's guilty, technically.
"Hello wound!" said the Salt.
 
Let's put this another way. What if this was a dentist's office? Would you still take your kids to a place where charges of illegal activity were occurring? The article was for the general public. There are no calls for a boycott for CC. It was for general knowledge. If they had cleaner shrimp for a decent price I would have purchased a couple a few days ago.
 
The article was posted with an opinion to not shop there and implied guilt by saying he couldnt support a store that deals in practices like this.

Now take this rewritten phrase...

Hey guys, saw this article. I really hope its not true as i would hate to have associated with a store that may have engaged in such practices. If it turns out to be true or until the matter is settled i will not be shopping there.
 
While your neutral post example would have been perfectly fine I see no call for anyone to follow him in his post. He posted a personal opinion. He was specific in that he said jonathon was accused. I'm not sure why you wouldn't want to know about info like this. I used a reference like a dentistry and one's children because some of use treat our systems like our babies.
 
jpitch said:
If they had cleaner shrimp for a decent price I would have purchased a couple a few days ago.
Click to expand...

This is my problem with the posting of the original "NEWS FLASH". You yourself are saying if he had cheaper cleaner shrimp you would have bought them. So if I understand you, you don't really care where something comes from, as long as it is cheap. I work in a competitor's store and I still think the first post was totally unnecessary.

I'm done because all we are doing now if highlighting a situation that is really none of our business

Andy
 
Long Island Andy said:
This is my problem with the posting of the original "NEWS FLASH". You yourself are saying if he had cheaper cleaner shrimp you would have bought them. So if I understand you, you don't really care where something comes from, as long as it is cheap. I work in a competitor's store and I still think the first post was totally unnecessary.

I'm done because all we are doing now if highlighting a situation that is really none of our business

Andy
Click to expand...

Apparently you DON'T understand me. Did you bother reading the article? Do you have any addition info on the possible offenses? If you don't, please don't assume noone else does. I perfectly respect the OP's feeling to not support for the reasons he stated. I perfectly respect another's response that until proven guilty, he's innocent. I happened to be of the latter belief. He hasn't been convicted of anything yet. AAAAAND, without getting into details the charges have nothing to do with my purchase of cleaner shrimp. I'm glad you're done because I don't like to justify my reasons to people who jump to conclusions. I've dropped a nice coin or 2 with no discounts to locals and LFS's.

By the way, I hope everyone's satisfied with that recent salt order. They got a good deal. I wonder if they all knew who they were supporting. Of course the bottom dollar had nothing to do with it.
 
I think the exploitation of animals is what gives this hobby a bad name.
We have been accused of causing much of the downfall to our reefs and marine animals.
Of course this is not true, but seeing this kind of Knocks us back ten steps.
It's my opinion that this is all of our business.
How can you blindly follow a business owner that has been accused of possibly raiding protected animals?
I'm not saying that they should be boycotted. I'm saying that since they are a sponsor of LIRA, they should provide an explanation as to why they have been accused. If they are guilty, they should be boycotted. If not, than I think they should say that to the group.
How the &$@" can a nature conservationist publicly be associated with a poacher?!

Nothing is black and white. The man should be given a chance, but the group as a whole should stand behind him if he's innocent, boycott if he's guilty.
If you don't think this directly effects you as a hobbyist, than it's time to get out of the hobby.
 
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