Jose Jimenez, Sea Turtle Egg Smuggling, California 2014

SAN DIEGO, CA – In a shocking case of wildlife trafficking, a California couple has been sentenced to six months in prison for smuggling 911 endangered olive ridley sea turtle eggs into the United States from Mexico.

Jose and Olga Jimenez, of Hemet, California, were caught in 2014 after their sons attempted to bring the eggs across the border in a pick-up truck, claiming they contained only fish and shrimp. The eggs were stored in nine plastic bags, concealed underneath a thin layer of fish and shrimp, and separated from the fish and shrimp by an additional layer of ice.

According to court documents, Olga Jimenez had spent the week visiting family in Mexico and was traveling with her sister when she boarded a bus in Nayarit with the cooler containing the eggs. Her husband, Jose Jimenez, met her at the bus station in Tijuana and transferred the eggs into two smaller coolers.

The couple’s sons, who were traveling with their aunt, were stopped at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and declared the fish and shrimp they were told were in the cooler. Border inspectors discovered the contraband sea turtle eggs, and the three individuals in the pick-up truck claimed they were unaware of the eggs’ origin or presence.

Olga Jimenez has a history of attempting to bring seafood and protected species into the United States, including a previous incident in 2013 where she was stopped at the border with five parrots and 5 pounds of ciruelas (a plum not permitted entry due to the potential to contaminate U.S. crops).

The case drew attention from U.S. District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino, who noted that the method of transportation caused the eggs not to be viable, preventing any mitigation. Judge Sammartino stated that a custodial sentence was justified based on the serious impact on the species resulting from the offense.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who made the seizure, saying "This case highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and the efforts of law enforcement to prevent wildlife trafficking.

The Jimenezes’ sentencing marks a significant victory for wildlife conservation efforts in the United States.

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