Turtle Traders Sentenced for Wildlife Trafficking

Contact Person: Dean Secor (843) 727-4381

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Steven Baker, age 35, of Holly Hill, and Ray Roberson, age 68, of Cottageville, have been sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for Wildlife Trafficking (Lacey Act violations) under 16 U.S.C. ?? 3372(a)(2)(A) and 3373(d)(2).

Baker was sentenced on September 22, 2015 by United States District Judge David C. Norton of Charleston to Probation for 3 years for the Wildlife Trafficking offense. He was also sentenced for Possession of Weapons and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), and received a sentence of Probation for 3 years to run concurrently with the Wildlife Trafficking offense.

Roberson was sentenced on August 13, 2015, 2015 by United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel of Charleston to Time Served for Wildlife Trafficking.

The southeastern United States is recognized as a “Turtle Priority Area” for conservation due to its rich turtle biodiversity. However, the turtle population of the region is susceptible to decline due to commercial over-exploitation of turtles for consumption, high nest mortality, and delayed maturity. The Spotted Turtle (Clemmys Guttata) are classified in the Emydidae family. The Spotted Turtle, in particular, has suffered from these effects so much so that it was recently listed for protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Spotted Turtle was accepted for listing under Appendix II of CITES, meaning that it is recognized as a species not necessarily in immediate threat of extinction, but which may become so unless trade of the species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

South Carolina state law makes it unlawful for any person to take, possess, transport, import, export, process, sell, offer for sale, ship or receive for shipment any Spotted Turtle without a state permit.

Section 3372(a)(2)(A) of The Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. § 3371, et seq.) makes it unlawful to import, export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase in interstate or foreign commerce any wildlife taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of any law or regulation of any State or in violation of any foreign law. Section 3373(d)(2) specifies the criminal penalty for any person who knowingly engages in conduct prohibited in Section 3372(a)(2)(A) and in the exercise of due care should know the wildlife was taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of law.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services agents received information that Baker was engaged in the unlawful sale and possession of turtles. Agents established that Baker d/b/a Southeastern Reptile Locators operated his business from his home in Holly Hill, South Carolina. The agents also determined that Baker did not hold a permit to possess Spotted Turtles. The agents then conducted an undercover investigation of Baker for unlawfully possessing and selling turtles.

On August 18, 2012, Baker drove to the Daytona Beach (Florida) Reptile Breeders Exposition and sold an undercover agent seventeen (17) spotted turtles for $1,200. The amount paid represented the wholesale pricing for the wildlife.

On May 21, 2013, Baker sent a UPS shipment to the same undercover agent in Orlando, Florida, which contained eighteen (18) spotted turtles and some other species of turtles. The undercover agent paid Baker $1,710 for the shipment via PayPal. The amount paid represented the wholesale pricing for the wildlife.

On August 1, 2013, a search warrant was executed at Baker’s home. In addition to turtle-related evidence, wildlife agents found firearms and ammunition in Baker’s home. Baker was a convicted felon and was not allowed to possess those items. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents subsequently determined that the weapons and ammunition were manufactured outside of South Carolina and therefore had traveled in interstate commerce.

In Roberson’s case, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services agents received information that Roberson was engaged in the unlawful sale and possession of turtles. The agents determined that Roberson d/b/a Apostle Reptiles was issued a permit on May 15, 2008 to possess up to nine (9) wild-caught Spotted Turtles for personal use as pets or for research and/or educational purposes. Roberson's permit expired on May 15, 2013. The agents then conducted an undercover investigation of Roberson for unlawfully possessing and selling turtles.

On July 14, 2012, an undercover agent contacted Roberson at his sales table in the Columbia, South Carolina Repticon Reptile Exposition. Roberson told the undercover agent that he was in possession of 119 Spotted Turtles for sale.

On March 21, 2013, Roberson shipped 24 Spotted Turtles to the undercover agent in Orlando, Florida. The agent paid $2,400 for the Spotted Turtles. The amount represented the wholesale pricing for the wildlife.

On July 1, 2013, Roberson shipped 23 Spotted Turtles to the undercover agent in Orlando, Florida. The agent paid $2,520.00 for the 23 Spotted Turtles. The amount paid represented the wholesale pricing for the wildlife.