A Ponchatoula turtle farmer has pleaded guilty to a serious crime that endangered the wildlife.
KEITH D. BOUDREAUX, age 56, of Ponchatoula pleaded guilty today to a one-count bill of information charging him with illegally shipping false map turtles in violation of Title 16, United States Code, Sections 3372(d)(2) and 3373(d)(3)(A).
According to court documents, BOUDREAUX submitted falsified export documents in connection with a shipment of 1500 false map turtles that he exported to a buyer in the Netherlands.
The illegal shipment of turtles not only hurts the environment but also threatens the economic stability of the turtle trade.
BOUDREAUX faces a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than five years, not more than three years on supervised release, a fine of $250,000.00, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey will sentence BOUDREAUX on November 27, 2018.
The U.S. Attorney praised the work of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is in charge of the prosecution.
The Ponchatoula turtle farmer’s actions not only put the environment at risk but also undermine the trust of the public in the wildlife trade.
The case highlights the need for stricter regulations and enforcement in the wildlife trade to prevent such crimes from happening in the future.
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Wildlife Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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