Woman admits to smuggling rare chickens

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old Aransas Pass resident has pleaded guilty to smuggling Dong Tao chickens into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

In August 2023, Jennifer Mayo had illegally smuggled 60 Dong Tao chicken eggs into the United States from Vietnam and Cambodia. She was also attempting to hatch them at her home in Ingleside.

Although Mayo initially reported all the animals that hatched had died, authorities conducted subsequent checks which revealed there were multiple live Dong Tao chickens on her property. However, due to their health, they had to be euthanized.

Dong Tao chickens aka Dragon chickens are a rare, expensive breed of chicken typical to southeast Asia. Originally from the village of Dong Tao in Vietnam, these chickens have very large legs as their identifying feature.

It is illegal to import poultry into the United States from regions affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza or regions where Newcastle disease exist in commercial poultry populations unless specific conditions are met.

According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Vietnam and Cambodia are listed as regions affected with highly pathogenic avian influenza and are not listed as free of Newcastle disease.

U.S. District Court Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Jan. 23, 2025. At that time, Mayo faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Mayo was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and Tyler Foster are prosecuting the case.