Men behind proposed Austin Aquarium in legal hot water
Image courtesy of KBOI
A planned Austin Aquarium has run into troubled waters long before breaking ground.
The project's Facebook page says the 23,000 square-foot aquarium will open this fall, but the prospective owners were arrested by federal agents Thursday.
Ammon Covino and Christopher Conk were arrested in Boise, Idaho--where they operate another aquarium--for alleged trafficking of protected marine life. The indictment against the men states they illegally purchased four spotted eagle rays and two lemon sharks.
The charges come out of Florida, where the men have been ordered to appear in March.
Before the arrests, city leaders in Austin said they have not yet been approached about any plans to build an aquarium in town.