Beginning in 2012, Covino was indicted by the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (Key West Division) through the enforcement of the Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Lacey Act, Florida State Administrative Code Section 688-44.005 and Section 688-44.008 for the illegal harvesting and trafficking of the Lemon shark ("Negaprion brevirostris)" and Spotted eagle ray ("Aetobatus narinari") in the Florida Keys.