Lin Feng Xu, a 31-year-old antique dealer from China, has been brought to justice for his role in the ivory trade. Xu pleaded guilty to smuggling and violating the Endangered Species Act in connection with the illegal export of African elephant ivory.
According to documents filed in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., on September 17, 2011, a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officer at JFK International Airport in Queens, N.Y. alerted inspectors with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that Xu was carrying suspected wildlife items in his carry-on luggage based on x-ray screening.
When questioned about 18 carved art objects apparently made of ivory, Xu initially stated that he did not know what they were made from and that they had been purchased for approximately $3,000 to 4,000 at U.S. auction houses. However, in pleading guilty, Xu admitted that he knew that the carvings were ivory and that they had a value of approximately $50,000.
Xu packed the ivory carvings in aluminum foil in order to conceal their outline from x-ray screening. An expert examination of the ivory carvings revealed that most are newly carved ivory and not genuine antiques.
The African elephant is listed as a threatened species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international treaty regulating trade on endangered species to which the United States is a party.
Xu was charged with a felony count of illegal smuggling, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain from the offense. He was also charged with a misdemeanor violation of the ESA for knowingly engaging in trade of ivory specimens, contrary to the provisions of CITES, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, or twice the gross gain from the crime.
Xu’s investigation was conducted by Special Agents of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Northeast Regional Office of Law Enforcement, with assistance from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wildlife Inspectors, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the TSA.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Richard A. Udell of the U.S. Environmental Crimes Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Pravda of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Xu’s guilty plea marks a significant victory in the fight against wildlife trafficking and the poaching of endangered species. The global demand for antiques and art made of or containing elephant ivory has resulted in a significant impact on the species and given life to a thriving black market.
Xu’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in the fight against wildlife trafficking and the need for robust laws and enforcement to protect endangered species.
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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