A Tucson man, along with eight other people from several states, are accused of illegally trafficking in protected reptiles, including Gila monsters and snakes.
All nine have been indicted on charges stemming from incidents occurring between April 2001 and July 2004, according to the indictments filed in U.S. Arizona District Court earlier this month.
Protected live reptiles were illegally collected, then sold and transported from Arizona to Oregon and other states, according to a news release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Those indicted include Tucsonan David P. Dougall and Clark D. Cox of Gilbert. They are accused of violating the Lacey Act, which prohibits the transportation and sale of wildlife in interstate commerce in violation of state laws.
According to the indictment, Dougall is accused of transporting, selling, receiving, acquiring or purchasing two California mountain kingsnakes with Robert L. Black of Gresham, Ore., in violation of Oregon law on April, 18, 2001. Dougall is accused of the same charge in relation to a Gila monster.
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Other defendants are said to have collected 13 other Gila monsters, three other California mountain kingsnakes, a tiger rattlesnake, two speckled rattlesnakes, a Western diamondback, one red coachwhip and one Mojave desert sidewinder, according to the indictments.
Conviction could bring penalties of up to $250,000 in fines and/or five years in prison, the news release stated.
"We hope this serves as a warning to those thinking of engaging in this kind of illegal activity," said Victoria Fox, a spokeswoman for the Fish and Wildlife Service. "This is an ongoing problem, and it is not only in Arizona. The more exotic the species is, the more desirable it becomes to a collector."
Gila monsters are one of only two venomous lizards in the world and can be found in portions of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Mexico, the release stated. They can be valued up to $3,500 each.
Other defendants in the case include: John C. Benson of Yucca Valley, Calif.; Scott M. Gelsomino of San Angelo, Texas; Mark C. Herritt of Yucca Valley, Calif.; Benjamin P. Martin of Las Vegas; Donald T. Mercer of Marion, New York; and Melody R. Ritter of San Angelo, Texas.
