Overview
- Federal prosecutors announced Friday that Donald Do was arrested and indicted on conspiracy and Lacey Act charges for an alleged plan to ship 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan.
- Investigators say a co-conspirator secured a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service export permit after Do claimed he bred the turtles in captivity, a key requirement for species regulated under CITES trade rules.
- After the permit issued, Do allegedly bought wild-caught turtles from Florida and other states, told sellers he would accept “wild caught,” and directed shipments to San Francisco.
- Prosecutors say the pair also tried to source more than 200 turtles from Albert Bazaar of Louisiana, who was detained last week in Phoenix in a related turtle trafficking case.
- Court records show Do pleaded not guilty on May 13, with a bond hearing set for May 21 and a status conference on July 31, and he faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count if convicted.