ENTERPRISE-RECORD (Chico, California) 11 January 08 After slow and steady probe, alleged tortoise smuggler caught (Greg Welter)

Sacramento: A Chico man arrested earlier this week is facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to import protected tortoises into the United States and selling them.

Culminating a four-year investigation, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott filed a 21-count indictment Thursday against Garret Smith, 39, and an unknown international conspirator dubbed "Turtle Man."

The indictment includes charges against both suspects of smuggling protected wildlife, false labeling of wildlife, unlawful sale of wildlife and money laundering.

Smith is also charged with one count of destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure during the execution of a search warrant.

Department of Justice spokeswoman Rosemary Shaul said a DOJ agent posing as a mail carrier delivered five Burmese Star tortoises to Smith's Chico home on Aug. 19, 2004.

When he accepted the delivery, authorities immediately enforced a search warrant on the home. "During the search, Smith reportedly attempted to discard the tortoises," Shaul said.

Smith allegedly trafficked in Burmese and Indian Star tortoises.

Authorities suspect Smith and his overseas contact conspired to obtain wild tortoises from Asia that are protected under an international treaty known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and smuggle them into the U.S.

Authorities are still looking for "Turtle Man," believed to be living in Singapore.

The indictment specifies that Smith imported, sold and distributed up to 30 illegally obtained tortoises to distributors and customers throughout the U.S.

Smith was arraigned in Sacramento Wednesday and released on bail.

He has reportedly returned to Chico to await his next court appearance, set for Feb. 12.

Local reptile expert Ron Greenberg, who operates Ron's Reptiles, said he's surprised Smith was willing to risk a federal charge to import the tortoises.

"They have gorgeous shells, but they aren't that rare," Greenberg said.

Though he has an importer's license that would permit him to legally obtain tortoises from overseas, he said Burmese and Indian Star tortoise captives bred in the U.S. are superior in quality, less prone to health problems, and completely legal to purchase and sell.

Greenberg said young tortoises of those varieties might sell for $750 wholesale, but had no idea what Smith may have gotten for them on the illicit market.

"There are a lot of people who want these reptiles and don't ask many questions about where they came from," Greenberg said.

Greenberg said he hopes Smith and anyone else involved in the smuggling activity are held accountable to the full extent of the law.

If convicted, Smith could face up to five years imprisonment on each count against him. The actual sentence will be dictated by federal sentencing guidelines, imposed at the discretion of the court.
After slow and steady probe, alleged tortoise smuggler caught

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