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Information from a Japanese man who pleaded guilty in October to smuggling 42 exotic turtles and tortoises into Honolulu airport has helped lead to two arrests in Los Angeles on similar charges.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles said Monday that Atsushi Yamagami and Norihide Ushirozako, both of Osaka, were arrested Friday at Los Angeles International Airport.
Both men were charged with one count of illegally importing wildlife and one count of violating the Endangered Species Act. They each face up to 21 years in prison and are to be arraigned Jan. 31.
Authorities were in part led to the men by Hiroki Uetsuki, who is facing up to 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced next month for trying to smuggle turtles.
