February 20, 2015 — Richard Scores, Jr., 57, owner and CEO of Westbury Fish Co., allegedly continued to transport and sell goods to Long Island restaurants for months despite having been expressly denied a shellfish permit and having been explicitly informed that it could not sell shellfish.
Acting Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced the arrest and arraignment today of the owner and CEO of a Westbury seafood marketing business on charges that he sold over $100,000 in fresh fish and shellfish to Long Island restaurants without the license and permits to do so as a result of a joint investigation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Richard Scores, Jr., 57, of Commack, was arrested today by DA investigators and DEC police officers. Both Scores and his company, Westbury Fish Company, Inc., were each charged with the following:
– Six felony counts of Failure to Possess Shellfish Shipper's and Processor's Permit
– Five felony counts and one misdemeanor count of Trafficking in Marine Food Fish and Crustacea for resale to other than the final consumer without a valid Food Fish and Crustacea Dealer and Shipper License
– Six misdemeanor counts of Failure to Possess Shellfish Shipper's and Processor's Permit
Nassau District Court Judge Frank Doddato released the defendant on his own recognizance. If convicted of the top charge, Scores faces up to 1-1/3 to four years in prison. He is due back in court on March 3.
"Food safety has to be the top priority for everyone in the supply chain. Nassau County consumers rely on the enforcement of government regulations to ensure that safety," Acting DA Singas said. "My office will continue its partnership with DEC to assure that consumers are protected from the elevated risk of food-borne illnesses posed by unlicensed and unpermitted seafood marketers."
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