COURIER-POST (Cherry Hill, New Jersey) 02 March 11 S.J. turtle trader snared in Feds' net (Jim Walsh)

Trenton: A Medford man has admitted guilt after being snared by an undercover agent in an illicit deal -- for black-market turtles.

Albert Roach, a reptile dealer, acknowledged Monday that he broke a federal law by acquiring four North American wood turtles in 2008, court records show. Roach obtained the turtles in a pair of online transactions, not knowing that his supplier was actually an investigator with Pennsylvania's Fish and Boat Commission.

Under a plea agreement, he faces a recommended sentence of one year's probation, as well as a $5,000 fine and a $1,250 payment to support turtle conservation.

Roach -- described in court papers as "an active member of the reptile-keeping and -trading community" -- also faces a ban on such activities during his probationary term.

And he's expected to make a five- to 10-minute video "in which he will explain wildlife laws and regulations applicable to reptile collectors," the plea agreement says. That video is to be posted on YouTube.com and will be offered to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

At a federal court hearing, Roach pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful purchase of wildlife. Authorities said he traded two spotted turtles for a North American wood turtle in June 2008, and that he paid $375 for three wood turtles in October of that year. The turtles were shipped to his Pinecrest Drive home by a parcel service.

Pennsylvania law prohibits possession of wild-caught wood turtles. The species' population is believed to be declining in the state, largely because people want them as pets, according to the Food and Boat Commission.

Roach and his attorney, Mike Pinsky of Westmont, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Authorities said Roach's transactions violated a federal law, the Lacey Act, that bars trafficking in protected wildlife.

They also asserted Roach acquired the turtles for "pecuniary gain" -- that is, to make money. In an e-mail to the undercover agent, Roach noted he would pay $150 for a wood turtle that he expected to sell for $200 to $225.

Roach operated a website, [url ban], for the sale of reptiles, authorities noted. Under the plea agreement, he is expected to sever his ties with that site.

The agreement includes excerpts of e-mails between Roach and the investigator, including a passage where the undercover officer cancels a meeting outside a Hamburg, Pa., reptile show.

"I wasn't real keen on the Hamburg show, anyway," the agent wrote. "I'd rather keep this away from lots of people, if you know what I mean."

"Not a problem," responded Roach, who then offered some advice to his supplier. "Just for the record, you have to watch what you say via e-mail as e-mails can be tapped."
S.J. turtle trader snared in Feds' net

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• NJ Press: Turtle trader snared by Feds' - W von Papineäu, Wed Mar 2 07:28:35 2011