Anaheim residents Linh Luu and Kevin Le have been sentenced to three years probation and significant fines after pleading guilty in federal court in Eugene, Oregon, to charges related to the trafficking of endangered wildlife parts. The couple admitted to violating the Lacey Act, a federal law that prohibits the buying or selling of wildlife, including animal parts, that are illegally imported or exported.
As part of their punishment, Luu and Le were each ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. These funds will be directed to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, contributing to efforts aimed at protecting at-risk species. The sentencing follows their guilty pleas entered on Friday in federal court.
Court documents detailing the couple's involvement indicate that between September 2019 and May 2021, Luu and Le processed a total of $51,000 in payments. These transactions were made to assist a friend residing in Vietnam in the illicit trade of wildlife parts both into and out of the United States. Their role facilitated a complex network of illegal commerce.
One specific exchange highlighted by federal prosecutors involved a clandestine meeting between the Anaheim couple and undercover agents. This meeting took place in the parking lot of a Target store, where the agents delivered $12,000 in cash. This sum was intended as a down payment for pieces of rhinoceros horn, demonstrating the direct nature of the couple's involvement. During this interaction, discussions reportedly included strategies to circumvent U.S. banking regulations and an acknowledgment that the cash originated from illegal wildlife trafficking activities.
The couple's illicit activities encompassed a range of endangered and protected species. They were implicated in transactions that led to the smuggling of American black bear gallbladders and cougar bones into Vietnam. Conversely, their involvement also facilitated the illegal importation of other valuable wildlife parts into Oregon, including black and white rhinoceros horns, lion teeth, and a tiger pelt. These items are highly sought after in illicit markets due to various demands.
Federal prosecutors pointed out that certain wildlife parts, such as black bear gallbladders and cougars, are "coveted by some for their use in traditional medicine" practices. This demand fuels the illegal trade, posing a significant threat to these animal populations.
The exchange of these wildlife parts constitutes a violation of the Endangered Species Act. This critical legislation makes it unlawful to trade animals and plants that are covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES is an international treaty, agreed upon by governments worldwide, including both the United States and Vietnam. Its primary purpose is to regulate the trade of species that are either currently extinct or face the risk of becoming extinct, thereby providing a framework for their conservation.
Many of the species involved in these trafficking activities hold specific conservation statuses under international agreements. Lions and white rhinos, for instance, are officially listed as threatened species, indicating they are likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of their range. The situation is even more critical for black rhinos and tigers, both of which are classified as endangered species, meaning they are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range. The Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act, which Luu and Le pleaded guilty to violating, serve as vital tools in combating such detrimental illegal wildlife trade and upholding these conservation efforts.