Man Jailed for Smuggling Endangered Sea Turtles
A Palm Beach County resident has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for his role in smuggling endangered sea turtles. James Odell McGriff, 56, of Riviera Beach, Florida, dug into two sea turtle nests and took 299 endangered sea turtle eggs on August 15, 2014.
McGriff intended to sell the eggs for $20 a dozen on the black market, where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates they are worth between $3 and $5 per egg. This would have netted him a profit of between $897 and $1,495.
Twelve of the eggs were held as evidence, and the remaining 287 were returned to the nests in an effort to allow them to continue developing and possibly hatch. All species of sea turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act as either threatened or endangered species.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Jorgensen. Judge Kenneth Marra sentenced McGriff to 14 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. McGriff is also barred from going east of the Intercoastal Waterway during that time.
The sentence is a victory for wildlife conservation efforts in the area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that the black market trade in sea turtle eggs is a significant threat to the species. McGriff’s sentence serves as a warning to others who would engage in such activities.
The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in combating wildlife crimes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Department, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked together to bring McGriff to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Wildlife Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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