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Sea turtle egg smuggler sentenced
In March of 2000, Maria Flores, of St. Reseda, California, purchased sea turtle eggs in El Salvador, probably for about 10 cents an egg. She wrapped them in aluminum foil, and packed the 2,880 eggs away in her luggage. Flores asked a friend to take the luggage through the checkpoint in Houston, telling her it was cheese. From Houston’s Bush IAH, Flores went directly to her flight to Los Angeles; where she would allegedly sell the eggs to restaurants, individuals, etc. for an estimated $4-$5 per egg. Her friend was caught with possession of the smuggled eggs in customs after an x-ray lifted suspicion. Flores pled guilty to smuggling, and was sentenced to six months in prison, (with three years supervised release). Her sentence begins on January 6, 2003.
In August of 2000, Flores’ sister, Ena Lillibet Reyes, was arrested in Houston on the same charges. Department of Agriculture inspectors found 1,524 sea turtle eggs wrapped in foil, and packed away in her luggage. She was on her way to Los Angeles, where she lived with her sister. Reyes also pled guilty, and was sentenced to five months, (with two years of supervised release).
Sea Turtles are protected under the Endangerment Act, and an international agreement known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is illegal to posses, sell, or harm the eggs, according to the mentioned laws. A maximum of five years in prison, and fines are the penalty for any violations.
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