Shane Takasane, a 43-year-old resident of Honolulu, was sentenced to three years of probation for selling Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang that were caught illegally. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park. Takasane had pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act on August 6, 2025.
As part of his probation, Takasane must serve 45 days under home confinement and complete 50 hours of community service with an organization focused on marine environment improvement. He is also required to pay $10,100 in restitution to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources.
Takasane admitted that between June and August 2023, he arranged with divers to collect Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang without holding the necessary commercial fish license before selling them to a buyer on the mainland United States. Additionally, from July 2023 through June 2024, he imported snakehead fish—considered harmful to native wildlife—and Asian arowanas, which are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
United States Attorney Ken Sorenson commented: “The protection of Hawaii’s wildlife is a critical component in preserving the unique and beautiful marine environment that draws so many to our islands. We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FBI, and other agencies to aggressively investigate, arrest, and convict those who seek to profit by violating the laws and regulations that safeguard Hawaii’s precious ocean wildlife.”
Douglas Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement added: “The illegal trade of native Hawaiian marine species threatens fragile coral reef ecosystems, while the smuggling of injurious species poses serious risks to our nation’s wildlife and habitats. We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their strong partnership in enforcing the laws that protect our nation’s most vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems.”
The case was investigated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted.
