Feds arrest aquarium owner after new allegations

BOISE (AP) - The president of a new public aquarium in Boise has been arrested again by federal agents, facing new allegations that he directed a relative to cancel delivery of illegal nurse sharks and destroy information related to the shipment.

Last week, federal agents arrested Ammon Covino, president of Idaho Aquarium. His arrest came after being indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida for buying and shipping to Idaho illegally harvested marine life.

But federal prosecutors said Covino, 39, of Meridian, was arrested again Tuesday, this time on a motion to revoke his $100,000 bond.

Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boise accuse Covino of telling his 20-year-old nephew, Peter Covino IV, to contact an individual in Florida to destroy information detailing a recent order placed for undersized and illegal nurse sharks.

Agents also arrested Peter Covino IV on Tuesday, charging him with one count of obstruction of justice.

He appeared in court Wednesday and was ordered to appear in a federal court in Florida on March 15, the Idaho Statesman reported.

When he was arrested last week, Ammon Covino was accused in the indictment of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act for buying four spotted eagle rays and two lemon sharks for $6,300. The indictment alleges that the species were taken illegally and without a permit.

Ammon Covino is scheduled to appear in court in Boise again Friday so a judge can determine whether he should be detained pending his transfer to the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida.

The indictment named and accused Christopher Conk, Idaho Aquarium secretary, of the same charges.

The Idaho Aquarium opened last year in a 10,000-square-foot building with 250 different species and other exhibits.