California couple indicted in sea turtle egg smuggling case
HEMET, Calif. » Federal officials say a Southern California couple has been arrested on suspicion of smuggling more than 900 endangered and threatened sea turtle eggs into the U.S. from Mexico.
The U.S. Justice Department said this week that Hemet residents Olga and Jose Jimenez have been charged in a four-count indictment. Each faces a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of all charges.
Officials say the eggs are considered a delicacy in Asia and believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Wednesday that the eggs typically bring between $3 and $5 each on the black market.
It wasn’t immediately known if the defendants have attorneys who could comment on the indictments.
3 responses to “California couple indicted in sea turtle egg smuggling case”
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Going to jail just for three to five buck crime. Not worth it.
We do have some crazy laws in the US. Planned Parenthood slaughters about 300,000 unborn infants each year and the Federal government rewards them by giving them about 500 million dollars for so-called women’s health care. This couple smuggles in eggs of an endangered or threatened animal and they could get up to 200 years in jail and a $4 million dollar fine. Only liberals can figure out the logic of this.
Anyway to make a buck! Fragile commodity requiring special handling and care which appears to make venture unprofitable for the price.