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Florida Businessman Pleads Guilty to Ivory Trade
Joseph Barringer, 55, a New Smyrna Beach, Fla. pool cue company owner, pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act for selling ivory-laden pool cues to a London undercover police officer.
According to the plea agreement, Barringer manufactured custom pool cues, including those made from elephant ivory, despite claiming on his company’s website that he didn’t sell overseas due to it being illegal. The defendant sold ivory-laden pool cues to the undercover officer, who was working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Agents seized 197 pounds of elephant ivory and cut ivory pieces, including 24 elephant tusk tips, during a search warrant at Cue Components and Barringer’s home. The agents also seized over 1,800 Cuban cigars, which are prohibited in the U.S.
Barringer’s company, Cue Components, had a history of obtaining statements from sellers indicating that the ivory purchased was lawful. However, an email sent by Barringer to his customers in November 2007 stated that he had been buying and hoarding ivory due to its high demand.
The African elephant is listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and is also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The global demand for elephant ivory has led to devastating declines in elephant populations.
Barringer faces a maximum penalty of one year of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $100,000, or twice the gross gain accruing from the crime. The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with assistance from London Metropolitan Police. It is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Richard A. Udell and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Ambrose.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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