SALT LAKE CITY – Brothers Jeremy and Keri Ann Stone of Utah are in hot water after being charged for conspiring to smuggle a rare white boa constrictor into the United States from Brazil. The Stones, both aged 39 and 34 respectively, stand accused of multiple counts related to the illegal import of the endangered species.
Jeremy Stone is alleged to have run a reptile breeding business, Jeremy Stone Reptiles, in Lindon. His sister Keri Ann was implicated for her role in the conspiracy. The Stones are charged with conspiracy to unlawfully import the snake; actually importing it into the country; transporting it knowing it was imported illegally; and submitting false records for wildlife.
According to court documents, Jeremy Stone became aware of a rare white boa at the Niteroi Zoo in Brazil around 2006. He then paid thousands of dollars to the zoo administrator to obtain the snake. Despite knowing that wild-caught boa constrictors are not allowed to be exported from Brazil, he proceeded with his plan.
The indictment reveals a series of emails between Jeremy Stone and the zoo administrator, outlining methods to smuggle the boa out of Brazil without proper permits. The Stones even paid for a trip to Brazil in 2009, where they were temporarily detained at the airport after Keri Ann was found with a false pregnancy belly.
Not content with their initial attempts, the Stones allegedly transported the snake to Guyana, where a veterinarian was used to forge a certificate of origin. With this false document, Jeremy Stone was able to export the boa along with other snakes from Guyana to the United States.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to for profit and the necessity for stringent wildlife protection laws. The Stones face serious charges, which if proven true, could result in substantial penalties.
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Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime|White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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