Vanessa Rondeau, Wildlife Trafficking, New York 2023

A Montreal woman has been sentenced for her role in a wildlife trafficking operation that spanned across the US-Canada border.

Vanessa Rondeau, 27, was sentenced to time served and one year of supervised release by US District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo in Buffalo, NY.

Rondeau was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $1,364 to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and a $40,000 criminal fine.

The sentencing stems from Rondeau's agreement to sell a polar bear skull to an undercover US Fish and Wildlife Service agent for $780 USD in January 2020.

The polar bear skull was later sent to the agent, and in January 2021, Rondeau agreed to sell another polar bear skull for $584.11 USD.

The total value of the wildlife illegally trafficked by Rondeau was approximately $37,204.

The investigation was led by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, with assistance from Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Vermont Offices of Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs and Border Protection.

Rondeau was convicted of trafficking in protected wildlife and was sentenced accordingly.

Defendant: Vanessa Rondeau

Criminal Charges: Trafficking in protected wildlife

City and State: Buffalo, NY

Exact Date: January 13, 2020, and January 26, 2021

Sentence or Outcome: Time served and one year of supervised release

Dollar Amounts: $40,000 criminal fine, $1,364 restitution, and $37,204 in wildlife trafficking

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/quebec-woman-sentenced-selling-protected-wildlife-skulls