A resident of Farmingdale has admitted falsely labeling as “toys” a package containing 10 live rhinoceros iguanas that was destined for Hong Kong, Acting U.S Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced in a Sept. 21 press release.
Jason Ksepka, 44, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of violating the Lacey Act by falsely labeling an international shipment of wildlife, according to the press release
According to documents filed in this case and to statements made in court, on Nov. 7, 2017, Ksepka shipped a package via U.S. Priority Mail Express from the U.S. Post Office in Lambertville. The package contained 10 live rhinoceros iguanas and was destined for Hong Kong.
Ksepka falsely described the contents of the package as “toys” and the sender as “Luke Jacobs” on a U.S. Postal Service International Shipping Label and Customs Form that accompanied the package.
On Nov. 8, 2017, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Inspectors intercepted the package at the mail facility at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and recovered the rhinoceros iguanas from inside the package.
Ksepka was paid $500 by an individual to falsely label the package and ship it to Hong Kong. One year prior to the shipment, the same individual had paid Ksepka $500 to ship approximately 10 additional rhinoceros iguanas to Hong Kong.
Ksepka has agreed, as part of his plea agreement, to pay a fine of $1,000 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lacey Act Reward Fund.
The charge to which Ksepka pleaded guilty carries with it a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2022.
Honig credited special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, under the direction of Resident Agent in Charge Sean Mann, with the investigation leading to the defendant’s guilty plea.