A New York man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for violating the Lacey Act and the Animal Welfare Act by trafficking African wild cats. Christopher Casacci, 39, of Amherst, was doing business as ‘ExoticCubs.com,’ through which he advertised, imported and sold exotic African cats.
Between February and June of 2018, Casacci imported and sold dozens of caracals and servals, for $7,500 to $10,000 each. Casacci claimed that he was operating as a big cat rescue organization in an attempt to avoid New York prohibitions against possessing and selling wild animals.
Casacci also falsified transport documents to hide the true species of the cats, instead calling the animals domestic crossbreeds, such as Bengal cats or Savannah cats. Further, Casacci was not permitted to sell the cats because he was not approved to do so under the Animal Welfare Act.
‘Selling wild animals as pets not only breaks the law, but also endangers local communities and environments,’ said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). ‘The purpose of the Lacey Act and the Animal Welfare Act is to protect fish, wildlife and other animals, especially those that may be endangered, from individuals who seek to profit from trafficking.’
Casacci was previously indicted for his actions in January of 2020. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ryan Noel, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bureau of Environmental Crimes Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Patrick Duggan of the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango of the Western District of New York.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Wildlife Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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