Edward N. Levine, Lacey Act, Nevada 2014

Two California men, Edward N. Levine, 63, of Mill Valley, and Lumsden W. Quan, 46, of San Francisco, have been indicted for selling endangered black rhinoceros horns worth $55,000.

The indictment, a result of ‘Operation Crash,’ a nationwide effort to investigate and prosecute those involved in the black market trade of endangered rhinoceros horns, charges Levine and Quan each with one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act and one count of violating the Lacey Act.

The Lacey Act prohibits the sale of wildlife that was transported in violation of law, while the Endangered Species Act prohibits the interstate transportation of endangered species for a commercial purpose and the interstate sale of an endangered species.

According to the indictment, over the course of approximately two months, Quan and Levine negotiated the sale of two black rhinoceros horns by e-mail and telephone, ultimately communicating with a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity.

The indictment further alleges that Quan and Levine offered to sell the two black rhinoceros horns for $55,000 and agreed to meet the buyer in Las Vegas. On March 19, 2014, after directing another person to drive with the horns from California to Las Vegas, Quan and Levine flew from California to Las Vegas, to make the sale.

Quan met the law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity in a Las Vegas hotel room, where Quan sold two black rhinoceros horns for $55,000. Both men were arrested later that day.

Rhinoceros are herbivores of prehistoric origin and one of the largest remaining mega-fauna on earth. They have no known predators other than humans. All species of rhinoceros are protected under U.S. and international law and the black rhinoceros is endangered.

Trafficking in rhinoceros horn has skyrocketed in recent years due to the demand for horn for ornamental carvings, good luck charms or alleged medicinal purposes. As a result of this demand, rhino populations have declined by more than 90 percent since 1970.

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