Georgia Doctor Fined $900,000 in Largest Bird Trafficking Case in U.S. History

Dr. John Waldrop and accomplice sentenced for smuggling protected birds and eggs in violation of federal wildlife laws.

Dr. John Waldrop of Georgia was sentenced to pay a $900,000 fine, serve three years of probation, and forfeit his extensive illegal collection of bird mounts and eggs.
Waldrop's collection included over 1,400 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,500 eggs, with specimens from endangered species like the Nordmann’s Greenshank and bald eagles.
The operation, spanning 2016 to 2020, involved smuggling wildlife from multiple countries using platforms like eBay and Etsy without proper permits or declarations.
Toney Jones, Waldrop's accomplice, received six months of probation for helping obscure the illegal activities, including handling $525,000 in transactions to conceal Waldrop's identity.
Federal investigation under Operation Final Flight uncovered the largest-ever seizure of bird mounts in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service history, highlighting the global scale of illegal wildlife trade.