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Mississippi distributor sentenced for misbranding imported seafood as local premium varieties

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Sunday, February 16, 2025

Mississippi distributor sentenced for misbranding imported seafood as local premium varieties

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U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee | U.S. Department of Justice

A Mississippi seafood distributor and two managers have been sentenced for their involvement in a scheme to mislabel seafood, marketing inexpensive imported substitutes as premium local species. Quality Poultry and Seafood Inc. (QPS), the largest seafood wholesaler on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, received a sentence of five years probation and was ordered to pay $1 million in forfeitures along with a $500,000 criminal fine.

The court mandated that QPS maintain records for five years detailing the species, sources, and costs of the seafood it acquires. These records must be accessible to federal, state, or local authorities involved in food regulation and distribution. Additionally, QPS is required to truthfully respond to inquiries from governmental agencies and customers regarding the species, source, and cost of any seafood they handle.

Todd A. Rosetti, sales manager at QPS, was sentenced to eight months in prison followed by 180 days of home detention. He will also serve one year of supervised release and complete 100 hours of community service. Business manager James W. Gunkel received two years probation with 12 months of home detention and 50 hours of community service.

“This large-scale scheme to misbrand imported seafood as local Gulf Coast seafood hurt local fishermen and consumers,” stated U.S. Attorney Todd Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi. “These criminal convictions should put restaurants and wholesalers on notice that they must be honest with customers about what is actually being sold.”

Acting Special Agent in Charge Kerry Mannion from the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office added: “U.S. consumers expect their seafood to be correctly identified... We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above public health.”

In August 2024, QPS admitted guilt for participating in a fish substitution scheme dating back to 2002 through November 2019. The company recommended foreign-sourced fish as substitutes for local species advertised by restaurant clients on their menus while labeling these imports as premium local fish at its retail shop.

Mary Mahoney’s restaurant pleaded guilty earlier this year for selling mislabeled fish between December 2013 and November 2019; they sourced their supplies from QPS among others.

The investigation was conducted by the Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations alongside the Mississippi Marine Patrol under the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea C. Jones along with Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik from the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division prosecuted this case.

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