Alpharetta Man Charged with Illegal Import

An Alpharetta man, was sentenced in U.S. Magistrate Court on April 28 after pleading guilty to illegally importing goods from South Africa.

Wayne Taliaferro, 56, was convicted of misdemeanor charge of illegally importing a leopard skin and skull from South Africa, a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act.

“This case reflects our commitment to the protection of the planet’s limited wildlife resources. We treat seriously violations of federal wildlife laws, and we are especially concerned about violations that involve endangered species,” said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias.

According to Nahmias, Taliaferro admitted that on March 21, 2005, he submitted to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service false documents, including a wildlife declaration form and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora export and import permits, for the purpose of unlawfully importing the leopard skin and skull into the United States.

He was sentenced to pay a fine of $20,000, and was placed on probation for one year. The guilty plea required Taliaferro to forfeit the leopard skin and skull to the United States Government.

Leopards and other species are protected under the Endangered Species Act through an international treaty known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The U.S. is one of 163 nations currently party to the CITES treaty, work cooperatively to protect fish, wildlife and plant species on a global scale from over-exploitation through international trade. Federal regulations related to the CITES treaty require that protected species may be legally imported only after certain permits are obtained, the importation into the U.S. occurs at designated ports of entry, and the importation is declared to, and inspected by, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Customs.

“This investigation illustrates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s vital role in maintaining the integrity of the CITES treaty’s permitting process,” said James R. Gale, special agent in charge of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Southeast Region. “That process allows protected species to be legally unprotected only if permits are obtained and other procedures are followed. That did not happen in this case. We will continue to work to protect the world’s wildlife species by investigating those who attempt to circumvent this important system.”

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement.

Assistant United States Attorney Mary C. Roemer prosecuted the case.