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 Business News | June 2008 
Texan Sentenced to Prison for Sea Turtle Smuggling
 Associated Press
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| | Sea turtles, despite their protected status, were the source material for items smuggled into the U.S. (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) | | |
Denver - A businessman from McAllen, Texas, has been sentenced to 16 months in prison on charges of smuggling the skins of endangered sea turtles and other exotic leathers from Mexico to the United States.
Oscar Cueva was sentenced Friday in Denver federal court. He pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit smuggling and money laundering.
He must spend three years on supervised release. He was also ordered to either make a donation, do community service or make a public service announcement to help sea turtles.
Cueva is among 11 people indicted in Denver in 2007 after multiyear investigation.
Sentencing is scheduled next month for Mexican bootmaker Martin Villegas Terrones, who made footwear for President Bush and former Mexican President Vicente Fox. |
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