Prosecutors say the smuggling operation brought more than 1,700 wild animals, mostly reptiles, into the U.S. from Mexico and Hong Kong to be resold from Ventura County.
An Oxnard man pleaded guilty Wednesday to smuggling more than 1,700 wild animals into the United States from Mexico.
Jose Manuel Perez, also known as Julio Rodriguez, pleaded guilty to two counts of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking. He was initially arrested in February and freed after posting bail, but cut off his ankle bracelet in June and fled to Tijuana. He was caught in Mexico about two weeks later and has been in custody since then.
According to his plea agreement, the 30-year-old Oxnard man and his accomplices used social media to coordinate the smuggling of wildlife, primarily reptiles, between January 2016 and February 2022. The animals included Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican bearded lizards from Mexico and Hong Kong, and were not declared to U.S. Customs officials as required by international treaty.
Animals were at times retrieved from Cuidad Juarez International Airport in Mexico and driven by car to El Paso, Texas, where the accomplices would be paid a fee for each border crossing, according to his plea agreement. From there, the animals were shipped to his family's home in Ventura County, where he would resell the animals to customers across the United States using the alias"Julio Rodriguez." On other occasions, Perez went to Mexico himself.
Prosecutors say Perez would rent a house in Tijuana and crossed into the U.S. from Mexico at the San Ysidro Port of Entry about 36 times. He was arrested on Feb. 25 at the border with 60 reptiles on his person, hidden in his clothes in small bags.Three of the reptiles died during this smuggling attempt.He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each smuggling count and up to five years for the wildlife trafficking count when he is sentenced on Dec. 1.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling $739K Worth of Wild AnimalsOn Feb. 25, 2022, Perez was arrested while attempting to enter the United States with 60 reptiles on his person, hidden in his clothing in small bags.
Leer más »
Man caught carrying reptiles in clothing pleads guilty to smugglingWhen the man was caught crossing into the U.S. federal agents said he had about 60 reptiles on him — including some in his pants.
Leer más »
2 sentenced to prison for armed robberies in KilleenTwo Killeen men both pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery in September 2021, and both have remained in federal custody since their arrests in October 2019.
Leer más »
Phoenix Youtuber sentenced to probation for cyberstalking attorney general employeeA Phoenix man was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to one count of cyberstalking in federal court.
Leer más »
Oregon white supremacist pleads guilty to attacking Black DJ at Lynnwood bar in 2018An Oregon man and self-proclaimed white supremacist pleaded guilty to charges in a Lynnwood assault in 2018. FOX13
Leer más »
Arizona man sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to cyberstalkingA Phoenix man will be on probation for years after he pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, stemming from a number of incidents in 2020.
Leer más »