ANDERSON, Calif. — Andrew Laughlin, 47, of Tahoe City, has entered a guilty plea in federal court, admitting his role in an international amphibian smuggling ring that posed a threat to U.S. ecosystems.
Laughlin, who operated as a ‘middleman,’ was caught shipping and receiving at least four packages containing live newts from Hong Kong and Sweden. The packages were disguised as toys and art pieces, hiding the illegal wildlife inside.
Court documents reveal that Laughlin’s activities facilitated the transfer of Eastern Box turtles, spotted turtles, fire belly newts, Asian warty newts, and native California newts. Some shipments included species prohibited from import due to their potential ecological impact.
A raid on his residence yielded 81 live newts, some carrying the deadly fungi Bd, which has decimated wildlife populations worldwide.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service led the investigation that ultimately brought Laughlin to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine T. Lydon is handling the prosecution.
Scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 7, 2024, Laughlin faces significant penalties. He must pay restitution for the seized newts and participate in a public education campaign about illegal wildlife trafficking at his kayaking store.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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