Man who attempted to smuggle 160 endangered species gets time served

One of the three men involved in a scheme to smuggle over 160 endangered species into Mexico has been sentenced to time served.

Roberto Angel Roman-Alvarez, who was charged with unlawful exportation of wildlife, pleaded guilty on Nov. 9 and was sentenced Thursday, court records show.

The other two men involved, Roberto Rojas-Ramirez and Jonathan Roberto Rojas-Casados, have yet to be sentenced but have also pleaded guilty.

According to the criminal complaint, United States Customs and Border Protection agents on Aug. 5 stopped a white 2006 Ford Econoline in the outbound lane going into Mexico.

Aboard the vehicle were Rojas-Casados, who was driving, and Roman-Alvarez, the driver’s brother-in-law.

It was during inspection when an officer found two boxes in the center console that were concealed with a black blanket, which contained numerous reptiles in small plastic containers.

Inside the boxes were also several small fabric sacks sealed with tape that moved and emitted a foul odor, the complaint said.

The contents of the box included 45 geckos, 21 snakes, 20 anoles, 16 tarantulas, 16 frogs, 11 scorpions, eight rainbow jacksons, six lizards, five Chinese water dragons, three albino nelsons, three fruit fly cultures, two tegus, two tortoises, two iguanas and two Indonesian blue tongues.

The two men told authorities during questioning that they were helping their family member, later identified as Rojas-Ramirez, cross animals into Mexico.

Rojas-Ramirez was several cars behind the Econoline in a 2014 Ford F-150 and was selected for outbound processing too.

In addition, Rojas-Casados said his father would be paying him $60 for the helping.

Neither of the men had a license or permit to export the animals.

All three men have been jailed since their arrest on Aug. 5.

Both Rojas-Casados and his father, Rojas-Ramirez, are set to appear before Magistrate Judge Micaela Alvarez for their sentencing on Feb. 15.

Both are charged with smuggling wildlife from the U.S. and unlawful exportation of wildlife.


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