Saratoga Resident Charged In International Elephant Ivory Trading Scheme

SAN FRANCISCO – Shahram “Ron” Roohparvar was arrested today in connection with an alleged international elephant ivory trafficking scheme announced Acting United States Attorney Brian Stretch and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Special Agent in Charge Jill Birchell. 

In an indictment unsealed today, Roohparvar, 61, of Saratoga, was charged with selling art objects made of elephant ivory on the international market.  According to the indictment, the sale of elephant ivory has been largely banned and highly regulated since 1976.  Federal statutes and international agreements regulate the export of elephant ivory and make it a crime to, among other things, export such products without the proper permits and declarations.  According to the indictment, Roohparvar nevertheless offered ivory for sale on the internet, and he exported it in violation of these rules. 

The indictment describes three transactions in which Roohparvar allegedly took part between 2012 and 2015.  In January of 2012, Roohparvar is alleged to have offered to sell an ivory carving for sale and shipped it to New Zealand; in December of 2013, Roohparvar is alleged to have directed the export of an ivory carving to Australia; and in July of 2015, Roohparvar is alleged to have attempted to export an ivory statue to New Zealand.  In all three cases, Roohparvar allegedly initiated the transactions without obtaining the required permits and without filing the necessary declarations with the USFWS.  Roohparvar was charged with three counts each of wildlife trafficking, in violation of 16 U.S.C. § § 3373(d), and smuggling, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 554. 

Roohparvar was arrested this morning by Special Agents from the USFWS. He was then arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero and released on a $250,000 bond.  His next court appearance is scheduled for April 6, 2016, at 2p.m., for an initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.  If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for each count of wildlife trafficking is five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  The maximum statutory penalty for each count of smuggling is 10 years’ imprisonment and $250,000.  Additional periods of supervised release, fines, and special assessments also could be imposed, however, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Vartain Horn is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Yanira Osorio. The prosecution is the result of an investigation conducted by the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement.