Post by yihunt on Jul 6, 2009 21:34:04 GMT -4
Commission Files Charges Following Investigation of Illegal Reptile Sales
Harrisburg, PA – An 18-month investigation by the Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) Bureau
of Law Enforcement has resulted in a dozen individuals from three states being charged with illegally
selling and possessing native reptiles.
“It is alleged that the defendants offered to sell reptiles unlawfully either via advertisements on the
internet or at trade shows,” said Jeff Bridi, the commission’s assistant director of law enforcement.
“Further investigation uncovered evidence of unlawful importation and possession as well as other
criminal offenses.”
Reptiles which are native to Pennsylvania include wood turtles, eastern box turtles, spotted
turtles, snapping turtles, timber rattlesnakes and copperheads.
As part of the investigation, PFBC officers posed as reptile collectors and made contact with
many of the subjects through e-mail and in some cases directly at trade shows.
After purchasing the
reptiles, officers served search warrants at a number of locations to obtain additional evidence. The
defendants are from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
Populations of many native species of reptiles and amphibians are in decline due to a variety of
factors including habitat loss.
“The unlawful collection of animals from the wild can be another stressor on
populations and for this reason the sale of most native reptiles and amphibians is prohibited under
regulations enforced by the Commission,” Bridi said. “Revised regulations which became effective in 2007
further limited the taking, possession and importation of species of reptiles and amphibians found in the
state and made their sale unlawful.”
The Commission charges approximately 18 individuals each year with the illegal importation, sale
or possession of native reptiles and amphibians. This was the largest undercover operation conducted by
the Commission and resulted in the highest number of individuals being charged at one time.
Pennsylvania residents charged following the investigation include Wesley Allison and Nicholas
Aponti of Schwenksville, Montgomery County;
Paul Cooper of Lititz, Lancaster County;
Debra Cross of
Atglen, Chester County;
Michael Percival of Throop, Lackawanna County;
Kevin Stanford of Dunmore,
Lackawanna County;
and Peter Terefenko of Reading, Berks County.
Those charged from out of state
include Michael Brooks of Holbrook, N.Y.;
Thomas Caucci of Mays Landing, N.J.;
Frederick Lee of
Berkeley Heights, N.J.;
Justin Munsterman of Fishkill, N.Y.;
and Darren Paolini of Newburgh, N.Y
Harrisburg, PA – An 18-month investigation by the Fish and Boat Commission’s (PFBC) Bureau
of Law Enforcement has resulted in a dozen individuals from three states being charged with illegally
selling and possessing native reptiles.
“It is alleged that the defendants offered to sell reptiles unlawfully either via advertisements on the
internet or at trade shows,” said Jeff Bridi, the commission’s assistant director of law enforcement.
“Further investigation uncovered evidence of unlawful importation and possession as well as other
criminal offenses.”
Reptiles which are native to Pennsylvania include wood turtles, eastern box turtles, spotted
turtles, snapping turtles, timber rattlesnakes and copperheads.
As part of the investigation, PFBC officers posed as reptile collectors and made contact with
many of the subjects through e-mail and in some cases directly at trade shows.
After purchasing the
reptiles, officers served search warrants at a number of locations to obtain additional evidence. The
defendants are from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
Populations of many native species of reptiles and amphibians are in decline due to a variety of
factors including habitat loss.
“The unlawful collection of animals from the wild can be another stressor on
populations and for this reason the sale of most native reptiles and amphibians is prohibited under
regulations enforced by the Commission,” Bridi said. “Revised regulations which became effective in 2007
further limited the taking, possession and importation of species of reptiles and amphibians found in the
state and made their sale unlawful.”
The Commission charges approximately 18 individuals each year with the illegal importation, sale
or possession of native reptiles and amphibians. This was the largest undercover operation conducted by
the Commission and resulted in the highest number of individuals being charged at one time.
Pennsylvania residents charged following the investigation include Wesley Allison and Nicholas
Aponti of Schwenksville, Montgomery County;
Paul Cooper of Lititz, Lancaster County;
Debra Cross of
Atglen, Chester County;
Michael Percival of Throop, Lackawanna County;
Kevin Stanford of Dunmore,
Lackawanna County;
and Peter Terefenko of Reading, Berks County.
Those charged from out of state
include Michael Brooks of Holbrook, N.Y.;
Thomas Caucci of Mays Landing, N.J.;
Frederick Lee of
Berkeley Heights, N.J.;
Justin Munsterman of Fishkill, N.Y.;
and Darren Paolini of Newburgh, N.Y