Intense Herpetoculture
We breed!
First, I do not think Rob Tieman is Dave Lawson anymore. I've dealt with Dave on the phone several times, if my memory serves me correctly, he reminds me nothing like Dave. I think we can put that behind us.
I originally thought it was Dave because he said African Animals said I owed them money, and Dave often goes around saying I owe money to various exporters that I do not to stir the pot. Seems like Rob either misheard them or Dave somehow convinced African Reptiles I owe them money which he has tried to do with other exporters by linking me to exporters Randal Ellis owes. I have not EVER done business with African Animals. I ONCE bought a pair of Atheris hispdis from Randal which he got from African Animals, that is the only connection other then inquires via e-mail I have to African Animals.
Second, I have decided not to post the fake health certificates because this is a pending investigation with USFWS and I really don't want to give up Al or Joe's source and info, let alone post my real certificates on-line. I want to protect my interests with this and not show everyone how to do it the proper way. USFWS is looking into this and will aggressively go after it.
Second, I am 100% sure the cobras are Boulengirina christy and not Boulengirina annulata as Joe and AL have on the permits from the Congo, the transit permits through Europe, and the import paperwork. They smuggled in a closely related but very different looking species. This along is in VERY clear violation of the Lacey Act.
It just so happens that the collector who supplies my exporter also supplies Al. Here is a photo of the animals which were sent to Al provided by the collector to my exporter. This same photo was sent to me beforehand so I could ID the species PRIOR to obtaining paperwork as I wanted to make sure I did everything legally.
I also included the original descriptions of both species of Boulengirina christy, and a related description of Boulengirina annulata. You can clearly see that the species Al has is Boulengirina christy and not B. annulata. I have had people from perserved collections worldwide look at their specimens of B. christy and they agree that the animals in the photos match the preserved specimens. I am also lucky that UTA here has a preserved specimens, one of the few in the country.
So Al and Joe illegally exported Boulengirina christy from the Congo as B. annulata, only had paperwork to transport B. annulata through Europe, and wrongly cleared them with USFWS as B. annulata. So far three violations right there. In addition if they transported them across state lines each occurrence is another violation. Hope no one bought these!
Also, yes, I was the one who "informed" USFWS about these illegal acts. I said it right here after I talked to them about it. I think importers need to do this correctly and after working so hard for myself to make sure everything was done legally Al went right behind me and did things illegally. He deserves what he gets in smuggling animals from the Congo.
Here is a photo of the animals Al got, he was likely sent the same photo before he got the animals as it was taken by the collector that supplies my exporter and his. Also here is the original description of Boulengirina christy which matches the photos and the animals Al and Joe imported. Also, the animals were collected right outside of Kinshasa which is the type location of this species.
I originally thought it was Dave because he said African Animals said I owed them money, and Dave often goes around saying I owe money to various exporters that I do not to stir the pot. Seems like Rob either misheard them or Dave somehow convinced African Reptiles I owe them money which he has tried to do with other exporters by linking me to exporters Randal Ellis owes. I have not EVER done business with African Animals. I ONCE bought a pair of Atheris hispdis from Randal which he got from African Animals, that is the only connection other then inquires via e-mail I have to African Animals.
Second, I have decided not to post the fake health certificates because this is a pending investigation with USFWS and I really don't want to give up Al or Joe's source and info, let alone post my real certificates on-line. I want to protect my interests with this and not show everyone how to do it the proper way. USFWS is looking into this and will aggressively go after it.
Second, I am 100% sure the cobras are Boulengirina christy and not Boulengirina annulata as Joe and AL have on the permits from the Congo, the transit permits through Europe, and the import paperwork. They smuggled in a closely related but very different looking species. This along is in VERY clear violation of the Lacey Act.
It just so happens that the collector who supplies my exporter also supplies Al. Here is a photo of the animals which were sent to Al provided by the collector to my exporter. This same photo was sent to me beforehand so I could ID the species PRIOR to obtaining paperwork as I wanted to make sure I did everything legally.
I also included the original descriptions of both species of Boulengirina christy, and a related description of Boulengirina annulata. You can clearly see that the species Al has is Boulengirina christy and not B. annulata. I have had people from perserved collections worldwide look at their specimens of B. christy and they agree that the animals in the photos match the preserved specimens. I am also lucky that UTA here has a preserved specimens, one of the few in the country.
So Al and Joe illegally exported Boulengirina christy from the Congo as B. annulata, only had paperwork to transport B. annulata through Europe, and wrongly cleared them with USFWS as B. annulata. So far three violations right there. In addition if they transported them across state lines each occurrence is another violation. Hope no one bought these!
Also, yes, I was the one who "informed" USFWS about these illegal acts. I said it right here after I talked to them about it. I think importers need to do this correctly and after working so hard for myself to make sure everything was done legally Al went right behind me and did things illegally. He deserves what he gets in smuggling animals from the Congo.
Here is a photo of the animals Al got, he was likely sent the same photo before he got the animals as it was taken by the collector that supplies my exporter and his. Also here is the original description of Boulengirina christy which matches the photos and the animals Al and Joe imported. Also, the animals were collected right outside of Kinshasa which is the type location of this species.
That spinal disorder must also make it hard to pay people back; seeing as how hard it must be to open his wallet 
