Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Illicitly Importing Protected Reptiles

Don Church of Texas pleaded guilty Aug. 1 to illegally importing protected Australian reptiles into the U.S. on behalf of a "fake zoo which he represented as legitimate," DOJ announced. Church entered 165 Australian reptiles, all covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, by giving U.S. and Australian authorities false information.

The man pleaded guilty to violating the Endangered Species Act, facing a maximum of one year in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Church imported the reptiles on behalf of the fake "Austin Reptile Center," submitting "misrepresentations about the facility" to authorities, including "photographs of reptile exhibits, employee names and positions, floor plans, location and financial information," DOJ said.