Letters needed: Request maximum penalty for traffickers of endangered species

[Guest guest]

-- Please circulate --

 

****** THREE PLEAD GUILTY TO TRAFFICKING IN ENDANGERED

SPECIES: ASK THE JUDGE FOR THE MAXIMUM PENALTY! ******

 

Please write a polite letter to the U.S. District Court

Judge in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and request that Freddy

Wilmoth of Gentry, Arkansas, and Todd and Vicki Lantz of

Cape Girardeau, Missouri receive the maximum penalties

allowed by law for their admitted roles in illegal trade in

endangered species.

 

This is an excellent opportunity to set a precedence for

future arrests, convictions and federal investigations

involving trade in endangered species, and could have a

powerful impact towards halting this type of crime against

animals. [AP Wire news article with more information about

this case is appended below.]

 

Write to:

Judge Lewis M. Blanton, U.S. District Court

Cape Girardeau, Southeastern Division

339 Broadway

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 USA

 

AP-NY-02-26-02

 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - Three people have pleaded guilty

to taking part in a black market scheme that involved the

deaths and butchering of four tigers.

 

The guilty pleas Monday stemmed from an investigation by

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into illegal trading of

the exotic animals. The investigation is more than four

years old and has snared people from Florida, Michigan

and Oklahoma. Because it is continuing, authorities sealed

the plea agreements.

 

Freddy Wilmoth of Gentry, ARK. pleaded guilty to illegally

transporting the big cats to Todd and Vicki Lantz of Cape

Girardeau. Todd Lantz, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy

to sell an endangered species illegally and Vicki Lantz,

40, pleaded guilty to assisting in the sale.

 

All three were free on bail. Sentencing was set for May 20.

Possessing big cats violates no federal law, but killing

the animals is prohibited. Hides, meat, skulls and teeth

of tigers, leopards and other big cats can fetch $5,000

to $20,000 from collectors, wildlife officials say. Tiger

bones, worth up to $250 a pound, primarily go to people

who practice traditional Chinese medicine, both overseas

and in major U.S. cities with large Asian populations.