O.C. man indicted in dragon fish smuggling case

                                            A red arowana fish                                               
An Indonesian exporter and six people in the United States – including a Garden Grove man – have been indicted on suspicion of smuggling and selling 12 endangered fish.
The endangered arowana fish are considered good luck in China and other areas of Southeast Asia.Jim Nguyen, a 23-year-old man from Garden Grove, was among the seven men who were indicted by a federal grand jury this week on suspicion of trying to smuggle and sell arowana fish, also known as dragon fish.
Andree Gunawan, a man who operates a website called Fantasy Aquatics that sells beta fish and other rare species, has been charged with two felony counts of smuggling endangered wildlife and four misdemeanor counts of offering an endangered species for sale. If convicted, he could face a 44-year sentence.
Considered lucky because it looks like a Chinese dragon, the arowana fish are believed in some Asian cultures to protect its owner from evil spirits. The fish live in jungle rivers and jump out of the water to feed on insects.
The fish, which can grow to more than 2 feet long, can sell from $1,000 to $20,000.
According to officials, Gunawan made a posting on an aquarium hobby site that he needed help smuggling the dragon fish. A Fish and Wildlife Agent then contacted Gunawan, claiming he had a contact with customs and could help Gunawan by being an intermediary – beginning an undercover operation.
Gunawan then began introducing the agent to potential buyers of the fish through e-mail, according to the allegations, pointing the agent to buyers in Garden Grove, San Jose, Texas and Kentucky.
The men are alleged to have paid $1,000 to $2,500 for the fish
Nguyen and 34-year-old Everette Villota, of Carson, were taken into custody in a Target parking lot after picking up the endangered fish, according to officials.
Samuel Hai-Hung Lam, 38, of San Diego, Tien Q. Le, of Louisville, Ky., Thy Tran, 30, of San Jose, and Fu-Hua Ku, 32, of Richardson, Texas, were also taken into custody.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.