LOS ANGELES - A Long Beach man has been indicted in the theft of three endangered iguanas from a nature preserve in Fiji. He is accused of smuggling them into the United States in his prosthetic leg. Jereme James, 33, faces a single count of smuggling. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Prosecutors say James stole the Fiji banded iguanas while visiting the island in 2002. He brought the reptiles to the US by hiding them in a special compartment he had constructed in his prosthetic leg, prosecutors said.
James, who was not taken into custody, could not be located for comment.
During an undercover probe, James told investigators he sold three iguanas for $32,000, prosecutors said. When a search warrant was served at his house on April 26, Fish and Wildlife agents seized four iguanas. Authorities suspect James may have bred the creatures to sell them. The seized iguanas will end up in a breeding program in the United States, U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns said.
Man accused of hiding lizards in hollow leg
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- Dr. Whiplash
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- cgarison
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Re: Man accused of hiding lizards in hollow leg
I am puzzeled.... This independent citizen was breeding these animals and making lots of money. Now he is going to jail so the Feds can breed these animals.Dr. Whiplash wrote: During an undercover probe, James told investigators he sold three iguanas for $32,000, prosecutors said. When a search warrant was served at his house on April 26, Fish and Wildlife agents seized four iguanas. Authorities suspect James may have bred the creatures to sell them. The seized iguanas will end up in a breeding program in the United States, U.S. Attorney Joseph Johns said.
Color me stupid. But now my %$*%# tax dollars are going to have to pay for something that was being handled perfectly well in the private sector. Sheesh......
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