California Reptile Smuggler Sentenced to 65 Months After Moving 1,700 Animals Into U.S.

Jose Manuel Perez, 34, has been sentenced to 65 months in federal prison after authorities uncovered a multi-year operation that smuggled at least 1,700 live reptiles into the United States from Mexico and China.

Jose Manuel Perez, 34, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to smuggling goods into the country and wildlife trafficking. AP

How the Smuggling Ring Worked

Federal prosecutors say the scheme operated from January 2016 through February 2022. Perez and his co-conspirators moved protected wildlife across international borders without the permits required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and failed to declare the animals at entry. Investigators described a structured network that relied on coordinated pickups, set transportation routes and cash payments.

Prosecutors said Perez and associates also traveled into Mexico at times to personally purchase wild-caught animals for smuggling into the US. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California

Court filings say co-conspirators collected animals at Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez International Airport, transported them by vehicle into El Paso, Texas, and then moved shipments to Perez’s residences—first in Missouri and later in California after he relocated. Prosecutors allege Perez and associates sometimes crossed into Mexico to buy wild-caught animals in person for later smuggling into the U.S.

According to authorities, border agents discovered dozens of reptiles hidden in his clothing, jacket, pockets and even his groin area as he attempted to cross into the US. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California

Species, Scale and Evidence

Authorities identified several species involved, including Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards. Officials say the enterprise ultimately moved at least 1,700 animals with a combined estimated market value exceeding $739,000.

The species involved included Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards. AP

Prosecutors also say the trafficking ring leaned heavily on social media. Perez and others allegedly used online platforms to negotiate sales, coordinate deliveries and advertise illegally obtained wildlife, posting images and videos that prosecutors say showed animals being removed from their natural habitats.

Arrest and Related Proceedings. The case ties to a separate incident on Feb. 25, 2022, when Perez was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Border agents reportedly found dozens of reptiles hidden in his clothing, jacket, pockets and groin area as he attempted to cross into the U.S.; he allegedly told officers the animals were his pets. A superseding indictment asserts Perez worked with a network of middlemen, including his sister, Stephany, to facilitate the smuggling over several years.

At the time of this sentencing, Perez was already serving a nine-year federal term after pleading guilty in May 2023 to multiple counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. Prosecutors note he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Ventura County Superior Court, including convictions for street terrorism and assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigation. The probe was led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.

Officials say the case highlights the environmental harm and organized nature of illegal wildlife trafficking, and the growing role of online marketplaces in facilitating such crimes.