Indiana man pleads guilty to importing over 2,600 pounds of catfish into Plainfield lake

PLAINFIELD, Ailing. – An Indiana man pled responsible to importing over 2,600 kilos of catfish into Illinois with out a allow.

Michael Sullivan, of Griffith, Indiana, entered a negotiated responsible plea final month to 1 rely of importing dwell fish with out a allow.

In line with investigators, Sullivan imported the fish right into a lake in Plainfield on three separate events in 2021. 

The fish had been decided to have been bought in Mississippi and Alabama.

In line with the Illinois Division of Pure Sources (IDNR), importing fish or different animals with out permission poses a threat to the state’s native wildlife populations.

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Sullivan introduced in channel catfish, that are prone to viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), which may decimate fish populations.

“Whereas VHS has been discovered within the Nice Lakes, at present we’ve got not detected this illness outdoors of Lake Michigan in Illinois,” stated Kevin Irons, assistant chief of fisheries at IDNR.

Sullivan acquired 24 months courtroom supervision and $227 in fines and courtroom charges.

He was additionally ordered to carry out 30 hours of neighborhood service and pay $10,500 in restitution to the IDNR Conservation Police Operations Help Fund.

To report poaching and different criminal activity, full the Goal Illinois Poachers (TIP) incident reporting type at https://dnr2.illinois.gov/OLETIPHotline/ or name the TIP line at 877-2DNRLAW.