His co-defendant, 50-year-old Rodolfo Tagle, is charged in the same indictment with accepting the shipments and distributing the coral and rock to fish and marine supply stores for use in aquariums.

Prosecutors said the coral and rock was worth about $1 million and said the damage caused to the Oahu reef system was in excess of $5 million.

Both men face 24 counts of trafficking in wildlife, 24 counts of shipping the rock and coral by commercial airlines and one count of conspiracy. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Another man, 56-year-old King Wong, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in connection in the scheme and is awaiting sentencing. Wong allegedly helped Marquardsen package the coral and rock and prepared false paperwork for shipping.

All three men were charged after an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Hawaii Department of Conservation and Resource Enforcement.