Posted by:
portsample
at Tue Dec 15 14:20:37 2009 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by portsample ]
Ever wonder where those nice healthy adult NAWTs that you see at trade shows come from? This is from today's Herpdigest.com newsletter.
3) Man Sentenced For Turtle Trafficking
By The Associated Press, The Charleston Gazette, 12/10/09
Martinsburg, W.Va. -- A Florida reptile dealer has been sentenced to one year of home confinement over a plot to smuggle more than 100 turtles out of West Virginia for sale elsewhere.
Michael Ellard of Estero, Fla., was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Martinsburg. Along with two others, Ellard pleaded guilty to violations of the Lacey Act, which prohibits trade in wildlife that have been illegally obtained. The three were arrested traveling to Florida from West Virginia with 108 wood turtles, four Eastern box turtles and six snapping turtles.
Along with home confinement, Ellard will pay $12,000 in restitution.
Hmmm...$12,000 fine, that's about $114/NAWT. What is the street value of an adult NAWT?
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