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Article: Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced for Attempting to Receive Protected Leopard Tortoises.
- Article from:
- Ecology, Environment & Conservation
- Article date:
- August 21, 2009
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Rene Soliz of Alice, Texas, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Corpus Christi, Texas, to serve three years of supervised probation, 250 hours of community service and pay a $1,500 fine for violating the Lacey Act by attempting to receive 15 Tanzanian leopard tortoises that were transported into the United States, the Justice Department announced.
Prior to his sentencing and as part of a plea agreement with the government, Soliz resigned his position as a Border Patrol agent.
Soliz pleaded guilty to the Lacey Act violation on April 14, 2009. The Lacey Act prohibits the knowing attempt to receive or acquire wildlife that was transported in ...