Crime & Safety
Whale Meat Dealer to Plead Guilty to Violating Marine Mammal Protection Act
Ginichi Ohira allegedly sold whale meat to The Hump, a now-closed Santa Monica restaurant.
Ginichi Ohira, a seafood dealer who sold whale meat to sushi restaurants, agreed on Friday to plead guilty to knowingly violating the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Ohira, 50, is alleged to have sold whale meat to The Hump Sushi Bar & Restaurant, a former Santa Monica restaurant. The restaurant closed after the makers of the 2009 Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove informed federal officials about Ohira's alleged actions. In March 2010, environmentalists protested in front of the restaurant, demanding its closure.
Ohira could go to prison for up to one year, if he is convicted of the misdemeanor charge. He could also be placed under supervised release for the same amount of time and be forced to pay a $100,000 fine as well.
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On Monday, it will be decided when Ohira will enter his plea.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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