Chaoyi Le, Attempt to Export Live Snakes, New York 2014

Canadian Man Arrested for Attempting to Ship Live Snakes through the Mail

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Chaoyi Le, 28, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with attempt to export and send from the United States, seven live ball pythons and three live albino western hog-nosed snakes, contrary to United States laws and regulations.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

According to authorities, on February 28, 2014, Le was found to be in possession of 55 live reptiles, many afforded protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). CITES is a treaty providing protection to fish, wildlife, and plants that may become imperiled due to the demands of international markets.

The live reptiles possessed by the defendant included 19 ball pythons, eight surinam horned frogs, two tiger leg tree frogs, four red eye tree frogs, five crested geckos, four giant day geckos, a fisher chameleon, and 10 Jackson's chameleons.

Le was previously charged by Violation Notice and paid a $5,000 fine in 2014. However, he failed to report for his appearance in federal court in September of 2014.

On August 11, 2017, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was notified that Le had boarded a flight from Shanghai, China, bound for Los Angeles, California. Le was arrested upon landing in California.

The defendant made an initial appearance today in the Central District of California and will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/canadian-man-arrested-attepting-ship-live-snakes-through-mail