KLTA (Los Angeles, California) 23 September 07 Man Accused of Smuggling Iguanas in Prosthetic Leg
A Long Beach man accused of bringing rare iguanas from Fiji into the United States by concealing them in his prosthetic leg was indicted today on a federal smuggling charge.
Prosecutors allege Jereme James stole three hatchling Fiji Island banded iguanas and brought them to the United States in violation of federal and international law.
If convicted of the charge, the 33-year-old Southlander could be sentenced to up to five years in a federal prison.
James is accused of taking the three iguanas from an ecological preserve while on a trip to Fiji in September 2002 and bringing them into the U.S. by concealing them in a special compartment he had constructed in a prosthetic leg he uses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service launched an undercover investigation after getting a tip that James was in possession of several specimens of the endangered species, prosecutors said.
James allegedly told an undercover operative that he sold a trio of Fiji Island banded iguanas for $32,000 four years ago.
Fish and Wildlife Service agents served a search warrant at James' house in July and recovered four Fiji Island banded iguanas, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The iguanas -- which are threatened with extinction -- are protected under an international treaty.
James will be summoned to appear for arraignment next month in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
Man Accused of Smuggling Iguanas in Prosthetic Leg