A 20-year-old Katy woman Tuesday pleaded guilty in federal court to smuggling a spider monkey from Mexico into the United States via the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville.
The spider monkey is valued at about $8,500.
Savannah Nicole Valdez appeared before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera Jr. where she entered a guilty plea to smuggling wildlife into the United States without first declaring and invoicing it and fleeing from an immigration checkpoint, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
“Smuggling in endangered species for commercial gain is a tragic crime against nature’s precious resources,” said Craig Larrabee, acting special agent in charge, HSI San Antonio. “HSI takes every opportunity to join our federal, private sector and international partners to share our knowledge, experience and investigative techniques designed to protect and preserve threatened and endangered species.”
The smuggling incident happened March 21, as Valdez attempted to cross the international bridge. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers noticed a wooden box with holes inside the vehicle which Valdez claimed contained beer she had purchased in Mexico, the press release reads.
However, when authorities opened the box, they discovered a live spider monkey and referred Valdez to secondary inspection. Valdez refused to comply with their instructions and instead sped off, running a traffic light, and nearly colliding with officers and other vehicles.
According to the press release, later that day, agents found multiple online postings advertising the sale of the spider monkey in the Katy and Houston areas with Valdez’s phone number listed in the advertisements.
On March 28, Valdez contacted law enforcement and turned herself in. She admitted to knowingly importing the monkey despite not declaring it and intentionally fleeing from law enforcement, the press release reads.
The monkey was recovered and placed with an animal shelter in the Central Florida area.
Valdez is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 25 and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and possible fine of up to $250,000.
Valdez is permitted to remain on a $50,000 bond pending that hearing.
