LOS ANGELES – A shocking plea bargain has been reached in a high-profile wildlife trafficking case involving a former television personality.
Donald Schultz, the 35-year-old host of Animal Planet’s ‘Wild Recon’ show, admitted to violating the Endangered Species Act by selling two live desert monitor lizards to an undercover agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on July 29, 2010.
The defendant never held a permit to sell the endangered animals. Desert monitor lizards are listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act.
According to court documents, Schultz agreed to ship the two live desert monitors from Los Angeles to Buffalo, New York, via airplane. A federal agent then received the monitors in New York and took them into custody.
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Schultz has agreed to serve two years of probation, pay a $6,000 fine, pay $3,000 in restitution, and perform 200 hours of community service.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Schultz is scheduled to be sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Victor B. Kenton on January 28.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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