California Man Pleads Guilty to Wildlife Trafficking

Jose Manuel Perez, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty to two counts of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking.  He admitted to smuggling several species of protected wildlife including Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards.  He smuggled more than 1,700 wild animals including 60 reptiles found hidden in his clothes earlier this year at the United States-Mexico border.  Law enforcement estimates that the wildlife smuggled by Perez had a total market value exceeding $739,000.

DOJ’s Press Release:  Oxnard Man Pleads Guilty to Wildlife Smuggling and Trafficking Charges for Illegally Importing More Than 1,700 Animals into U.S.