Former Portland Aquarium Co-Owner Arrested For Violating Probation

by | Oct 31, 2015 | Industry | 1 comment

Ammon Covino, the former Portland Aquarium Co-Owner, who was sentenced to a year and a day in prison, along with hefty fines, for conspiring to buy protected sharks and rays that were illegally harvested from Florida, was arresting last week for alleged violations of his probation terms. The terms of his sentencing also barred him from working in the aquarium industry, or buying, selling, exhibiting, possessing or shipping fish or wildlife while on probation. He ended up serving seven months out of his prison term and was serving his probation when he was arrested for the alleged probation violations last week. The allegations against him are that he violated the terms of his probation by working for aquariums.He was arrested by Federal probation officers in Texas. An Austin judge denied his request for bond. He is being transferred to District Court in Miami, to await his hearing on the charge. However, there are no more official facts as to the specific allegations of his violation or where he was allegedly working. Although some sources say that Covino was seen at the Austin Aquarium, which is owned by Covino’s relatives. Covino co-owned the Idaho Aquarium with his brother, Vince Covino. Vince Covino also owns an aquarium in Austin and San Antonio.MORE

  • Francis Yupangco

    Francis is a marine biologist with an MBA and over 20 years of professional aquarium experience. Francis is the former Aquatic Development Manager at Hagen USA., makers of Fluval brand aquarium products. He co-stars on Nat Geo WILD's reality TV series Fish Tank Kings where he is the resident "Fish Geek" and was Director of Marketing at Living Color Aquariums. He is an avid explorer having visited over 45 countries and lived in 7. At 17, he was among the youngest aquarists ever hired by the Vancouver Aquarium, where he worked for 7 years. His aquatic biology experience ranges from larval fish rearing to the design, construction and operational management of renowned public aquariums around the world. Francis is currently head of marketing at the world's largest vertically integrated fish farming company.

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