He is accused of violating Wisconsin’s mandate that invasive carp are gutted or have their entire gills cover cut off. According to DNR, the law stems from the fact that bighead carp, silver carp, and grass carp can survive out of water for a day or more. Those steps make sure that they cannot survive.

Li, who was the sole operator of Li Fish Farm, was accused of transporting the carp intact, primarily in 2018 and 2019, but DNR alleged he had been doing it for longer than that. The agency claimed he moved more than four-and-a-half tons of illegally transported or sold invasive carp. He would also use an unmarked refrigerated van to move the fish, DNR added, pointing out that the vehicle made it harder for authorities to identify it as belonging to a fish dealer.