Rene Soliz, Wildlife Trafficking, Texas 2009

A former Border Patrol agent in Texas has been sentenced to serve three years of supervised probation, 250 hours of community service and pay a $1,500 fine for attempting to receive protected leopard tortoises. Rene Soliz of Alice, Texas, was found guilty of violating the Lacey Act by attempting to receive 15 Tanzanian leopard tortoises that were transported into the United States in 2006.

According to court statements, in March 2006, Soliz contacted an individual in Dar-Es Salaam, Tanzania, who was selling leopard tortoises. Soliz asked to buy eight of the tortoises and indicated an interest in buying more at a later date as part of a long-term business relationship. On April 7, 2006, a U.S. Customs inspector at John F. Kennedy International Airport intercepted a package containing the tortoises being sent to Soliz, which was labeled as containing 50 live scorpions.

The package was opened and 14 live leopard tortoises and one dead tortoise were found. Leopard tortoises are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The CITES Appendices list species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation. Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled.

Soliz pleaded guilty to the Lacey Act violation on April 14, 2009. Prior to his sentencing and as part of a plea agreement with the government, Soliz resigned his position as a Border Patrol agent. The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Claire Whitney of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section. The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden stated, ‘Today’s sentence and Mr. Soliz’s resignation as a Border Patrol agent underscore the consequences of violating federal wildlife laws.’ Soliz attempted to trade in a threatened tortoise species in violation of laws designed to protect wildlife from extinction.

The Justice Department responds aggressively to those who choose to undermine federal wildlife laws and contribute to the endangerment of protected species.

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