https://www.apnews.com/b7dc2e1ad64a46409f92fb15c8010fbf
Man sentenced for importing scorpions, giant millipedes
July 3, 2019
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey man who illegally imported scorpions, giant millipedes and other invertebrates, some of which escaped inside a postal delivery truck, has been spared a prison term.
Wlodzimie Lapkiewicz instead was ordered Tuesday to serve six months of home confinement and four years of probation. The 30-year-old Metuchen man had pleaded guilty to smuggling wildlife.
In July 2015, a group of live scorpions and millipedes escaped from an international express mail parcel originating in Tanzania and addressed to Lapkiewicz at his home.
A postal inspector gave him a warning. But prosecutors say he continued to order live insects and invertebrates without proper permits, through July 2018.
Prosecutors say Lapkiewicz participated and assisted others in intentionally mislabeling parcels of live wildlife to avoid detection.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/m...other-wildlife
Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of New Jersey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
Middlesex County Man Sentenced For Illegally Importing Scorpions And Other Wildlife
TRENTON, N.J. – A Middlesex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to six months home confinement and four years’ probation for illegally smuggling wildlife into New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.
Wlodzimie Lapkiewicz, 30, a/k/a “Wlodek Lapkiewicz,” of Metuchen, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan to an information charging him with one count of smuggling wildlife. Judge Sheridan imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.
According to the documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Between July 2015 and July 2018, Lapkiewicz illegally imported and exported scorpions, giant millipedes, and other invertebrate species, conduct which Lapkiewicz acknowledged is commonly referred to as “brown-boxing.” On multiple occasions, Lapkiewicz imported Emperor and Dictator Scorpions, both of which are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) treaty as protected species. Postal inspectors learned of Lapkiewicz’s illegal imports after live scorpions and giant millipedes escaped from an international parcel while in transit to Lapkiewicz in July 2015. The investigation revealed that Lapkiewicz participated and assisted others in intentionally mislabeling parcels of live wildlife to avoid detection. The investigation also revealed that Lapkiewicz utilized social media to arrange buyers for the scorpions, giant millipedes, and other invertebrates that he had illegally imported.
U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Honora Gordon, with the investigation leading to these charges.
The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Barnes of the Criminal Division in Newark.
Defense counsel: David Holman Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark