Customs agents foil suspected reptile smuggler at LAX

Last edited by Mark on Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:56 am; edited 1 time in total

November 20, 2009 | 7:02 pm

In an apparently cold-blooded attempt at smuggling, a Lomita man was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport this week with more than a dozen wriggling lizards strapped to his chest.
Michael Plank, 40, was detained by U.S. Customs agents after they discovered 15 live lizards stuffed into his money belt, officials with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service said Friday.

Plank was returning from Australia on Tuesday when agents found two geckos, 11 skinks and two monitor lizards in his possession. Australian reptiles are strictly regulated, and Plank didn’t have a required export permit, officials said.

The lizards are valued at $8,500.

Smuggling wildlife into the U.S. is a felony punishable by a $250,000 fine and up to 20 years in prison. Plank has been released on a $10,000 bond and will be arraigned Dec. 21 in a Los Angeles federal court, authorities said.

-- Catherine Saillant

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/reptile-smuggler-stopped-at-lax.html

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:33 am Post subject:

It'll be interesting to see the outcome on this one.. I wonder what happened to the animals involved.

Shane

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 3:52 am Post subject:

November 24, 2009 01:52pm

A CALIFORNIAN man accused of smuggling 15 Australian lizards into the US by strapping them to his chest is owner of a reptile business who has made eight trips to Australia in the past six years, court documents allege.

Michael Plank, 40, owner of US-based Big Game Reptiles, allegedly told US authorities he collected the lizards from the wild while in Australia.

On November 17 he was stopped by US Customs officers at Los Angeles International Airport after arriving on a flight from Australia.

A search revealed Plank had two money belts strapped to his chest and inside were the 15 protected Australian lizards - 11 skinks, two geckos and two monitors, authorities allege.

The lizards were estimated to be worth $US8500 ($9220).

"He said that he smuggled them on his person because in Australia it is illegal to export reptiles without a permit," US Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Mona Iannelli wrote in an affidavit filed in the US District Court.

"Plank admitted that he placed the lizards into money belts which were strapped on his body to board his departing flight from Australia to Los Angeles."

Plank also allegedly admitted to smuggling lizards into the US from Europe in 2004 and 2007 and being owner of Big Game Reptiles.

The Big Game Reptiles website, Ms Iannelli noted, stated it was "a world leader in the breeding of Australian geckos" and its "collection consists of the most diverse bloodlines available".

The site offers an adult pair of soft spiny-tailed geckos, common in south-west West Australia, for $US1000 and babies for $US350 each.

Centralian knob-tailed geckos, found in the Northern Territory, are offered for $US500 each.

Plank is charged with fraudulently and knowingly importing lizards into the US and faces a maximum 20-year jail sentence and $US250,000 fine.

He was released on a $US10,000 bond and will be arraigned in a Los Angeles court December 21.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,26393998-1702,00.html?from=public_rss

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 4:27 am Post subject:

I went looking for his email addy to express my disgust and found that he has closed his website... hope the gets hammered by the US legal system..

Shane

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:57 am Post subject:

Try looking at the cached version on Google, Shane. Although a quick web search suggests that firing a missle at

Please login to see this email
Get registered or Log in

might just hit the target ...

And this will give you his phone/fax details:

http://whois.domaintools.com/biggamereptiles.com

Cheers

David

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject:

hey thanks David Very Happy

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject:

lol he will not hide Laughing

He deserves all the flack he cops, I actually remember visiting his site not too long ago and found it suspiciosly interesting.

I am glad he has been caught and hope these types of things send out a clear message to others although it probably won't.

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

http://cbs2.com/local/Lomita.Michael.Plank.2.1383975.html

Alleged Lizard Smuggler Pleads Not Guilty

LOS ANGELES (CBS) ― A Lomita man who allegedly attempted to smuggle 15 live lizards from Australia through customs at LAX by strapping them to his chest pleaded not guilty to federal charges.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said 40-year-old Michael Plank was returning from Australia on Nov. 17 when U.S. Customs agents found two geckos, two monitor lizards and 11 skinks -- another type of lizard -- stuffed into a money belt he was wearing.

Authorities say the lizards have an estimated value of more than $8,500.

All Australian reptiles are strictly regulated and Plank did not have a permit for them, officials said.

Plank faces a felony charge of smuggling wildlife into the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.

He was released last month on $10,000 bond.
No further court dates were announced at his arraignment hearing in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:52 am Post subject:

NOT GUILTY plea with him being caught with the specimens strapped to his chest. This guys an even bigger IDIOT than i thaught.

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:02 am Post subject:

Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

That not guilty plea will get the book thrown at him if he is convicted.

Suspected LAX Lizard Smuggler Pleads Guilty
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Suspected-LAX-Lizard-Smuggler-Pleads-Guilty-98284154.html

A Lomita man pleaded guilty Monday to attempting to smuggle 15 live lizards from Australia through customs at Los Angeles International Airport by strapping the reptiles to his chest.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said 41-year-old Michael J. Plank was returning from Australia last Nov. 17 when U.S. Customs agents found two geckos, two monitor lizards and 11 skinks -- another type of lizard -- stuffed into a money belt he was wearing.

All Australian reptiles are strictly regulated, and Plank did not have a permit for the lizards, officials said. The lizards' value totals more than $8,500, according to estimates.

Plank entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II to a charge of smuggling wildlife into the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

He is free on $10,000 bond pending sentencing on Oct. 18.

American admits smuggling Aussie lizards
07:50 AEST Wed Jul 28 2010
Peter Mitchell

A reptile salesman has admitted in a Californian court he smuggled 15 live Australian lizards into the US by strapping them to his chest.

Michael Plank, owner of US-based Big Game Reptiles, was stopped by customs agents when he arrived at Los Angeles international airport last November on a United Airlines flight originating in Sydney.

Acting on a tip from a "confidential informant", a pat-down search on Plank found two money belts strapped to his chest containing two geckos, two monitor lizards and 11 skinks worth more than $US8500 ($A9400).

Plank, 41, of Lomita, south of Los Angeles, originally entered a not guilty plea to the smuggling charge and last month asked US District Court judge Otis D Wright to throw out the evidence derived from the pat-down search.

Plank also fought to expose the identity of the informant.

When he lost both bids and a jury trial loomed, Plank did an about face and entered a guilty plea to the charge of smuggling wildlife into the US.

Plank will be sentenced October 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to $US250,000 ($A280,000) in fines.

According to court documents, Plank told US authorities he collected the lizards in the Australian outback.

Plank's travel records show he made eight trips to Australia in six years, US authorities allege.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7936062/american-admits-smuggling-aussie-lizards