Special Issue HerpDigest 7/4/03

> Articles On Last Weekend's Bust Of Those Involved in Commercial Side of

> Herpetology

> ________________________________________________________________________

> Last weekend local and federal authorities busted numerous owners of

> herps,

> (mostly for owning poisonous snakes in towns, cities, counties and states

> where such ownership is illegal, dealers (for state and interstate trade

> in

> illegal animals). Ohio officers raided a herp show in Ohio just before it

> was about to open. The most publicity came from the actions in Michigan,

> Ohio and Indiana. Each state had their own name for their part of the

> operation. Michigan was Operation Slither, Ohio was Operation E & T.

> (Endangered and Threatened)

> There are plenty of rumors going around, so I thought it might help get

> the

> records straight by printing some of the articles and press releases I've

> found and received concerning the bust. The material is listed

> chronologically.

> What I've definitely heard is that in terms of people arrested and number

> or

> animals involved it is one of the largest herp busts on record, and that

> other states (Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Arizona and Washington) are

> involved and the case has already involved busts concerning drugs and dog

> fights.

> A full list of the animals and numbers confiscated will be released, but

> it

> already seems it will include a few thousand animals, including gila

> monsters to box and wood turtes and several species of poisonous snakes

> not

> found in the US including cobras.

> There is one thing clear, keeping in mind that these articles at least

> appeared in most media outlets in the states they were issued in, and

> nationwide, the massive publicity around this case was meant to send a

> clear

> message to the herp world. "Don't break the law, you are being watched."

> Editor

> P.S. After the monkeypox outbreak was tracked to a herp swap meet, the

> deaths caused by salmonella traced to pet Green Iguanas, and the finding

> of

> West Nile Virus Disease in herps, does the herp world need to supply those

> who want to close herp shows, make it illegal to keep herps, any more

> ammunition?

>

> A regular issue of HerpDigest will be sent out sometime this weekend.

> ______________________________________________________________

> TABLE OF CONTENTS

> 1) Authorities Bust Illegal Reptile Ring (Michigan) 6/29/03

> 2) Local Authorities Seize Over $50K In Reptiles: Officials Seek Warrants

> Against 13 People (General AP article sent out about the bust covering

> Ohio,

> Indiana, but mostly Michigan contains a lot of new information. Sent same

> day as article first article

> 3) Illegal Snakes Found During Reptile Raids In Indiana 7/1/03

> 4) Black-Market Reptile Trade Gets Shelled: About 100 Illegally-Captured

> Turtles Found In Local Man's Home (Michigan) 7/1/03

> 5) State Wildlife Officials Continue To File Charges In Illegal Wildlife

> Trade Investigation, Ohio DNR press release July 2, 2003 (Press Release

> includes names and crimes of those so far charged)

> ______________________________________________________________

> 1) Authorities Bust Illegal Reptile Ring

> AP, Jue 29, 2003

> DETROIT (AP)--State and federal wildlife officials seized hundreds of rare

> and endangered turtles and snakes in raids Saturday aimed at breaking up

> one

> of the nation's largest suspected networks of illegal reptile and

> amphibian

> sales. The morning raids in Ohio, Indiana and southern Michigan followed a

> two-year investigation by the states' departments of natural resources and

> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, officials said.

> ``It's the first time we've actually been able to catch them and hopefully

> it will send a strong message to curtail that activity,'' said Brad

> Wurfel,

> press secretary for the Michigan DNR. The ring was under observation for

> more than a decade, and the break came when investigators managed to

> infiltrate the group by posing as dealers, trappers and customers,

> officials

> said. At least 50 people in the three states are expected to be charged,

> officials said. More than 100 snakes, turtles and other animals were

> seized

> as 10 homes were searched in Ohio, said Jim Quinlivan, law enforcement

> supervisor for the Ohio DNR's Wildlife Division. About 150 protected

> turtles

> and 20 protected snakes were seized in Michigan, along with marijuana,

> according to an undercover detective with the Michigan DNR, who asked not

> to

> be identified. Their market value was estimated at more than $55,000. Some

> of the animals were spotted turtles, which are a protected species in

> Michigan and can sell for as !

> much as $250 each, the detective said. The illegally traded animals also

> included spotted salamanders, which are amphibians.

> Many of the Ohio animals were colorful snakes and turtles native to the

> Lake

> Erie shore, while others such as Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes are found

> in hilly regions inland.

> The number of animals seized in Indiana was not immediately available.

> ((This is a very early report, the numbers as you will see increase,

> editor)

> __________________________________________________________________________

> (This article is similar to that above, but includes a lot of additional

> information, It was issued latter the same day -editor)

> 2) Local Authorities Seize Over $50K In Reptiles: Officials Seek Warrants

> Against 13 People , AP June 29, 2003

> State and federal wildlife officials seized at least 200 rare and

> threatened

> reptiles in raids in three states aimed at breaking up one of the nation's

> largest networks of illegal reptile sales. The raids, which took place

> just

> before 9 a.m. Saturday, were conducted in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. They

> stemmed from a two-year-long investigation by the departments of natural

> resources in the three states and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

> officials said. "It's the first time we've actually been able to catch

> them

> and hopefully it will send a strong message to curtail that activity,"

> said

> Brad Wurfel, press secretary for the Michigan DNR. Search warrants were

> issued for eight homes in Inkster, Southgate, Berkley, Lansing, Sterling

> Heights, Ypsilanti and an unnamed southwestern Livingston County

> community,

> Wurfel said. Although the ring was under observation for more than a

> decade,

> the break in the case came after investigators began infiltrating the

> group

> two years ago by !

> posing as dealers, trappers and customers, federal officials said.

> While working undercover, investigators conducted business with

> approximately 50 dealers and collectors who were unlawfully selling rare

> and

> exotic animals in the three states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

> said.

> The animals included gila monsters, spotted turtles, Blanding's turtles,

> fox

> snakes, black rat snakes, Eastern Massasauga rattlesnakes, timber

> rattlesnakes, Eastern box turtles, spotted salamanders, Indian pythons and

> indigo snakes, the service said. The number of animals seized in Michigan

> alone topped 170. The reptiles included more than 150 protected turtles

> and

> 20 protected snakes, according to an undercover detective with the

> Michigan

> DNR who asked that his name not be published. About 100 turtle eggs, which

> authorities believe were being bred for sale as pets, were also

> confiscated,

> the detective said. The market value of the Michigan animals is estimated

> at

> over $55,000. Some of the animals seized were spotted turtles, which are a

> protected species in Mi!

> chigan and can sell for as much as $250 each, the detective said. In

> addition to recovering the reptiles, officials also seized a large

> quantity

> of marijuana and a small amount of what appears to be cocaine in the

> Michigan raids, the detective said. The exact number of animals seized in

> the Ohio and Indiana busts was not immediately known. But an official with

> the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said she expects the total for the

> three

> states to exceed 200 animals. At least 50 people in the three states have

> been contacted and are expected to be charged, officials said. Michigan

> officials are seeking warrants for 13 people cited in Saturday's raids,

> although more are likely to be charged as the investigation progresses,

> the

> detective said.

> According to undercover investigators, most of the crimes took place at

> monthly animal swap meets, where a variety of animals are sold. It's

> difficult for state authorities to prosecute illegal sales at these meets

> because in order to do so they must prove that the animals were illegally

> obtained in Michigan, Wurfel said. Many of the animals in question can be

> legally sold at the meets if they are brought in from other states that

> don't outlaw their capture, he said. That's where the undercover

> investigators come in. Their testimony will help authorities show the

> sales

> were illegal, Wurfel said. One dealer paid $25,000 for several illegally

> collected snakes. One transaction involved the unlawful sale in Indiana of

> a

> King Cobra, a 7-foot black mamba snake and a venomous black coral snake,

> according to a statement issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

> Michigan charges are expected to range from misdemeanor counts of

> illegally

> selling protected wildlife, to felony count!

> s of possession with intent to deliver narcotics and animal cruelty, the

> detective said. The state's case is expected to be prosecuted by the

> Michigan Attorney General's Office because of the multiple jurisdictions

> involved, the detective said. The results of the federal investigation

> will

> be forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Attorney's Office for possible

> federal

> charges, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.

> ______________________________________________________________________

> 3) Illegal Snakes Found During Reptile Raids In Indiana

> AP, July 1, 2003 INDIANAPOLIS -- Seven venomous snakes seized in Indiana

> as

> part of a multi-state crackdown on illegal sales of exotic animals could

> have fetched several thousand dollars on the black market, a state

> conservation officer said. Seven people were arrested in Indiana, said

> Capt.

> Terry Hyndman of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Their names

> were not released. "There's a variety of charges," he said Monday. "We

> have

> everything from a simple illegal possession of a protected species to

> illegal sales of a protected species to unlawful interstate commerce.

> "That's one of the things the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is very

> interested in," Hyndman said. "If you purchase or possess something

> illegally in one state and cross state lines, you've violated federal

> law."

> The simultaneous raids in Indiana, Ohio and southern Michigan on Saturday

> followed a two-year undercover investigation. Hundreds of rare and

> endangered turtles and snakes were confiscated, and !

> at least 50 people were expected to be charged in the three states.

> "Indiana was much smaller than the others, which we were very thankful

> for,

> because that tells us that our raid in 1998 did a good job," Hyndman said.

> Several hundred illegal reptiles and amphibians were seized and several

> dozen people were arrested in Indiana raids five years ago. This time, the

> raids -- in the western Indiana town of Clay City and in Evansville --

> produced four rattlesnakes, two vipers and one cobra, all poisonous.

> "There

> seems to be more and more people who want to get into the exotic pet

> trade,

> either as a status symbol with a unique pet or for the black market. It's

> an

> extremely profitable black market," Hyndman said. "In Indiana, we have

> some

> very strict rules on what native species you can or cannot possess. The

> reason is, when it's left unchecked, there's such a market for them there

> are reptile hunters out there that will actually decimate the population

> in

> a given area," he said. !

> The most valuable snakes taken in the Indiana raids probably a!

> re two G

> abon vipers, an albino western diamondback rattlesnake and an albino

> cobra,

> each likely worth more than $600, Hyndman said. "The others would be more

> toward $200 to $400," he said. The DNR also is keeping for evidence a

> deadly

> black mamba that was seized in Ohio and returned to Indiana. The snake was

> bought illegally in the parking lot of the Indiana State Fairgrounds

> during

> a Midwest reptile show three weeks ago, Hyndman said.

> _______________________________________________________________________

> 4) Black-Market Reptile Trade Gets Shelled: About 100 Illegally-Captured

> Turtles Found In Local Man's Home (Michigan 7/1/03) mlive.com

> One of two Ypsilanti Township men arrested Saturday during a massive

> undercover operation aimed at illegal reptile dealers was one of the

> biggest dealers in the eight-state sting, law enforcement officials

> alleged on Monday. According to Department of Natural Resources officials,

> about 100 illegally-captured adult breeding turtles were found in the home

> of the 53-year-old man in the 1200 block of Davis Street. About six

> turtles

> were confiscated from a 21-year-old resident of the 100 block of Oregon

> Avenue. In Livingston County, authorities said a 40-year-old Gregory man

> was

> found with about 15 illegal snakes. He was also charged with manufacturing

> marijuana. The names of the suspects have not been released, pending

> arraignment. More than a dozen tickets were issued and nine search

> warrants

> were executed by state and federal law enforcement teams throughout

> Michigan, which were among units from eight states nationwide coordinating

> simultaneous enforcement against illegal reptile dealers. "Operation

> Slither," as it was known in Michigan, focused on reptile dealers who are

> suspected of dealing animals illegally captured from the wilds of

> Michigan,

> and exotic species that are o!

> therwise illegal for possession and sale. Michigan is home to more than a

> dozen protected reptile and amphibian species. "We knew there were

> individuals who were dealing and trading in animals that are already

> protected in Michigan because their numbers are shrinking," said DNR

> spokesman Brad Wurfel. "Historically, the feeling we got from members of

> this hobbyist community was that they weren't terribly concerned about

> being

> busted for what they were doing. As of Saturday, we became a concern." He

> said Michigan law is such that unless you are caught taking the animal

> from

> the wild, there are ways to easily obscure records so that it looks like

> the

> animals came from a state where they are not protected by law.

> A swap meet show was scheduled to open at 9 a.m. in Columbus, Ohio, and

> at 8:50 a.m., as doors were being knocked on in Michigan, the show was

> raided by state and federal authorities. The same thing was happening in

> Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, Arizona and Washington.

> In Michigan, warrants were also served in Berkley, Lansing, Sterling

> Heights, Southgate and Inkster. This is probably the hardest hit this

> industry has ever taken in the United States," said an undercover DNR

> detective who asked that his name not be used. "We've never done an

> investigation like this into the reptile industry. ... We have direct

> evidence that these Michigan animals are going all over the United States,

> possibly to other countries." Most of the Michigan raids recovered wood

> turtles, Blanding's turtles, spotted turtles, and Eastern box turtles. DNR

> officers had long suspected that certain Michigan reptile dealers were

> trafficking in protected Michigan species. "We've been working for upwards

> of 15 years to try to get somebody inside," said Wurfel. "However, it's a

> very tightly-knit community and our efforts to infiltrate with an

> undercover

> officer had long gone exposed, busted, and otherwise rejected."

> Finally, in June 2001, a DNR undercover officer infiltrated the dealer

> network by posing as a snake and turtle trapper. Federal undercover

> investigators were also working the dealer network nationwide, posing as

> dealers. Michigan cooperated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

> Statewide, Saturday's raids led to the recovery of nearly 200 reptiles now

> under the care of a veterinarian. Officials will return as many as

> possible

> to the wild. Nearly 70 conservation officers in Michigan were involved in

> the Saturday raids. The cases will be prosecuted by the state Attorney

> General's Office. Most are misdemeanor charges, although there are will be

> a

> few felony charges as well, according to DNR officials. "Anyone looking to

> illegally profit from the black-market trade of animals should be

> forewarned: You will face prosecution in Michigan," Attorney General Mike

> Co

> x said in a statement.

> __________________________________________________________________________

> __

> ________________

> 5) State Wildlife Officials Continue To File Charges In Illegal Wildlife

> Trade Investigation

>

> Ohio DNR press release July 2, 2003

>

> STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO FILE CHARGES

> IN ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE INVESTIGATION

> Wildlife officers conduct "Operation E&T" to protect endangered and

> threatened species

>

> COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio wildlife officials continue to issue summonses to

> individuals in and out of the State of Ohio as part of a multi-state

> effort

> launched on June 28 to crack down on the illegal sale and possession of

> endangered reptiles and amphibians.

> The Ohio portion of the multi-state enforcement action has so far resulted

> in 153 charges being filed against 28 individuals, according to the Ohio

> Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). State and federal wildlife

> officials titled the investigation "Operation E&T" in reference to its

> efforts to protect endangered and threatened wildlife species. Results of

> the investigation have been forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Attorney's

> Office for possible future federal charges. The undercover investigation

> by

> the ODNR Division of Wildlife was conducted in cooperation with the U.S.

> Fish and Wildlife Service and the departments of natural resources in the

> states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana. The cooperative

> investigation,

> initiated from public complaints, focused on the illegal sale of native

> reptiles and amphibians in Ohio and

> surrounding states. "It is important that Ohioans continue to be able to

> enjoy our

> state's wildlife diversity," said Law Enforcement Supervisor James

> Quinlivan

> of the ODNR Division of Wildlife's District One Office. "It became

> apparent

> that laws designed to protect Ohio wildlife were being blatantly

> disregarded, and native Ohio reptiles and amphibians were being illegally

> taken from the wild and sold for profit." Many violations allegedly

> occurred

> at reptile shows held in Columbus, Ohio and locations in Michigan and

> Indiana. The violations involved the unlawful interstate and intrastate

> commerce of federal and state-protected species; the unlawful collection

> and

> possession of native Ohio reptiles and amphibians taken from the wild;

> possession of wild animals without proper permits; and failure to keep

> accurate animal records.

> Depending on the violations, these misdemeanor charges carry maximum

> penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, 120 days in jail, and restitution for

> the wild animals illegally taken or possessed. The ODNR Division of

> Wildlife

> will also seek felony indictments

> against individuals involved in the unlawful sale of wild animals whose

> value exceeded $1,000. These fifth-degree felonies carry a maximum

> penalty

> of up to $2,500 in fines and one year in jail.In 2000, the ODNR Division

> of

> Wildlife strengthened regulations

> concerning the possession and trafficking of native Ohio reptiles and

> amphibians. The updated laws protect and conserve native reptiles and

> amphibians, while maintaining options for their use for educational

> purposes. Undercover officers posed as dealers, trappers, and customers in

> the sale of reptiles and amphibians. State wildlife officers monitored

> approximately 50 individual dealers and collectors allegedly involved in

> the

> unlawful commercialization and taking of species such as spotted turtles,

> Blanding's turtles, fox snakes, black rat snakes, Eastern massasauga

> rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes, Eastern box turtles and spotted

> salamanders. Individuals under investigation also allegedly dealt in

> federally protected species such as Indian pythons and indigo snakes.

> So far hundreds of reptiles and amphibians, including non-venomous and

> venomous snakes have been recovered. Included in the recovery of venomous

> snakes was a black mamba, a species native to Africa which is considered

> one

> of the world's most poisonous and aggressive snakes. Ohio laws allow for

> the

> possession of limited quantities of some

> native species of reptiles and amphibians taken from the wild, and for the

> possession of animals by educational institutions. Snakes legally obtained

> from out-of-state or animals produced in captivity can be sold or traded.

> Proper permits from the ODNR Division of Wildlife are required in most

> instances. "We encourage people to enjoy Ohio's wildlife, including our

> interesting reptiles and amphibians. However, problems arose when

> individuals would not follow our permitting process, and animals were

> illegally taken or possessed," said Quinlivan. Many of the species sold

> for

> hundreds of dollars each. One of the dealers allegedly paid $25,000 for

> several illegally-collected snakes, and

> another sold more than 80 spotted salamanders allegedly taken from the

> wild.

> A collector contacted by undercover officers allegedly captured more than

> 2,000 snakes in just three days. Law enforcement officers believe these

> illegal wild-caught animals were then funneled into the pet trade, many

> going out of state. "Illegal collection and ommercialization could

> potentially seriously harm wild populations of these animals here in Ohio

> and throughout the Midwest," said Quinlivan. "And the more rare or unusual

> the animal, the more prized and higher the price paid. The amount of money

> involved was

> incredible."

>

> For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at ohiodnr.com

>

> A Current List Of Those Charged Is Attached

>

> For Further Information Contact:

> Jim Lehman, ODNR Division of Wildlife

> (614) 644-3925

> -or-

> Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations

> (614) 265-6882

>

> ODNR Division of Wildlife

> OPERATION E & T

> CRIMINAL CHARGES AS OF: July 1, 2003

>

>

> Operation E & T - An undercover law enforcement investigation by the Ohio

> Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife in cooperation

> with the Departments of Natural Resources in the states of Michigan,

> Pennsylvania, and Indiana and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the

> illegal possession, taking, and commercialization of reptiles and

> amphibians.

>

> * The below are charges by the ODNR Division of Wildlife that

> have been served on defendants as of this date. As many as 100 additional

> charges are being considered and/or prepared and can be expected to be

> served on some of the below defendants as well as additional defendants in

> days and weeks to come.

>

> * The charges below are misdemeanors of the 4th, 3rd, or 1st

> degree. Depending on the degree, they carry maximum penalties of up to

> $1000 fines and 120 days in jail, in addition to restitution for the

> animals

> involved and any other court orders such as probation, community service,

> etc.

>

[ Show Entire Thread ]