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 and commit wire fraud. Quality Poultry and Seafood Inc. (QPS), the largest seafood wholesaler on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, received a sentence of five years probation, along with $1 million in forfeitures and a $500,000 criminal fine. The court also mandated that QPS maintain records detailing the species, sources, and costs of its seafood for five years. These records must be accessible to federal, state, or local authorities overseeing food distribution.
Todd A. Rosetti, QPS sales manager, was sentenced to eight months in prison followed by 180 days of home detention, one year of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service. James W. Gunkel, business manager at QPS, received two years probation with 12 months of home detention and 50 hours of community service.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee stated: “This large-scale scheme to misbrand imported seafood as local Gulf Coast seafood hurt local fishermen and consumers.” He emphasized that these convictions serve as a warning to restaurants and wholesalers about honesty with customers.
Kerry Mannion from the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations remarked: “U.S. consumers expect their seafood to be correctly identified." Mannion stressed the importance of accurate labeling due to potential food safety risks when substitutions occur.
In August 2024, QPS admitted guilt for participating in a fish substitution scheme from as early as 2002 until November 2019. The company recommended foreign-sourced fish as substitutes for local species advertised by restaurant clients on their menus.
Mary Mahoney’s restaurant pleaded guilty earlier this year for selling mislabeled fish supplied by QPS between December 2013 and November 2019.
The investigation was conducted by the FDA - Office of Criminal Investigations alongside the Mississippi Marine Patrol under the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' guidance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea C. Jones and Senior Trial Attorney Jeremy F. Korzenik prosecuted the case.
