Bay Area Man Arrested for Attempted Turtle Trafficking

A man from Daly City was apprehended for attempting to export hundreds of turtles from the U.S. to Taiwan. The arrest occurred on Friday, marking the end of his plans.

Donald Doe has been charged with conspiracy and violations related to the Lacey Act, a law aimed at protecting wildlife, as stated by officials.

Under federal law, anyone looking to import “harmful wildlife” must secure a Lacey Act permit. However, authorities claim that Doe’s efforts to traffic sea turtles were based on deceit from the outset.

As per the indictment, Doe’s allies allegedly misled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by asserting that he had personally hatched and raised 292 loggerhead sea turtles.

In reality, prosecutors suspect that Doe purchased illegally captured turtles from Florida and other states while searching for even rarer species.

Reportedly, he also attempted to acquire more than 200 turtles from a Louisiana individual already involved in a separate turtle trafficking case.

When his export plans fell through, Doe purportedly tried to mislead a California-based accomplice, claiming he had already sold the turtles to buyers in the U.S.

The investigation into Doe was part of Operation Southern Hot Harps, aimed at identifying and stopping turtle poaching activities in the southeastern U.S.

Loggerhead sea turtles, found in various locations around the globe, are recognized for their robust jaw muscles which help them consume hard-shelled prey. Although considered endangered in certain areas, they have varying conservation statuses in different regions.

Each year, turtles in the U.S. build over 100,000 nests.

Doe has asserted his innocence, with a bail hearing scheduled for May 21 and a status conference on July 31. If found guilty, he could face up to five years in prison along with a $250,000 fine for each charge related to conspiracy and the Lacey Act.