Michael Amato, Smuggling Wildlife, Missouri 2023

Wildlife Smuggling Ring Exposed in Missouri

A brazen wildlife smuggling ring has been brought to light in Missouri, with a 68-year-old St. Louis County man admitting to smuggling regulated wildlife into the United States.

Michael Amato, a resident of St. Louis County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a felony charge of fraudulently importing protected wildlife.

As part of his plea, Amato agreed to forfeit over six dozen taxidermy bird mounts that were seized from his home on September 1, 2021, as well as bird mounts still in his possession, including owls, buzzards, hawks, eagles, harriers, and cranes.

The scheme, which operated from February 2018 through September 2020, saw Amato and his unnamed associates smuggle 67 different birds into the country without declaring them or obtaining the required permits.

Some of the birds involved are listed as threatened with extinction, while others could become so if their trade is not regulated.

According to Amato’s plea, he provided his international associates with instructions on how to fill out export/import forms and list the wildlife to avoid detection by law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Collins prosecuting the case.

Amato is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, with both sides agreeing to recommend three years of probation and a $5,000 donation to the World Bird Sanctuary to represent a portion of the market value of the protected wildlife seized from his home.

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