Plano Man Pleads Guilty to Ivory Smuggling

SHERMAN, Texas – The grimy halls of justice have yet another shocking tale to tell as Shichen Wang, a 44-year-old man from Plano, Texas, has entered a guilty plea in federal court for attempting to smuggle elephant ivory carvings. According to the Department of Justice, Wang, a Chinese national, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of negligent attempted transportation of wildlife sold in violation of law.

On April 19, 2011, Wang reportedly attempted to ship two elephant ivory carvings, daffodil flowers, and a cylinder brush pot. The deception was complete as both packages were misleadingly labeled to describe their contents as ‘wood carvings,’ a stark violation of federal laws designed to protect endangered wildlife species.

Unfortunately for Wang, his scheme fell apart when the packages were intercepted by wildlife inspectors examining international express mail packages destined for export from the United States. The inspector’s keen eye and the law enforcement’s relentless pursuit led to Wang being charged with federal violations on November 29, 2012.

The U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that Wang could face up to one year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine for his transgressions. The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble spearheading the prosecution.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remains committed to conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the American people. For more information on their vital work, visit www.fws.gov.

As this case highlights the ongoing battle against wildlife trafficking, it serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to profit from illegal activities. Wang’s sentence is still pending, but one thing is clear: justice has been served.

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