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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2003

STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO FILE CHARGES
IN ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE INVESTIGATION
Wildlife officers conduct “Operation E&T” to protect endangered and threatened species

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio wildlife officials continue to issue summonses to individuals in and out of the State of Ohio as part of a multi-state effort launched on June 28 to crack down on the illegal sale and possession of endangered reptiles and amphibians.

The Ohio portion of the multi-state enforcement action has so far resulted in 153 charges being filed against 28 individuals, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). State and federal wildlife officials titled the investigation “Operation E&T” in reference to its efforts to protect endangered and threatened wildlife species. Results of the investigation have been forwarded to the appropriate U.S. Attorney’s Office for possible future federal charges.

The undercover investigation by the ODNR Division of Wildlife was conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the departments of natural resources in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana.

The cooperative investigation, initiated from public complaints, focused on the illegal sale of native reptiles and amphibians in Ohio and surrounding states.

“It is important that Ohioans continue to be able to enjoy our state’s wildlife diversity,” said Law Enforcement Supervisor James Quinlivan of the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s District One Office. “It became apparent that laws designed to protect Ohio wildlife were being blatantly disregarded, and native Ohio reptiles and amphibians were being illegally taken from the wild and sold for profit.”

Many violations allegedly occurred at reptile shows held in Columbus, Ohio and locations in Michigan and Indiana. The violations involved the unlawful interstate and intrastate commerce of federal and state-protected species; the unlawful collection and possession of native Ohio reptiles and amphibians taken from the wild; possession of wild animals without proper permits; and failure to keep accurate animal records.

Depending on the violations, these misdemeanor charges carry maximum penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, 120 days in jail, and restitution for the wild animals illegally taken or possessed.

The ODNR Division of Wildlife will also seek felony indictments against individuals involved in the unlawful sale of wild animals whose value exceeded $1,000. These fifth-degree felonies carry a maximum penalty of up to $2,500 in fines and one year in jail.

In 2000, the ODNR Division of Wildlife strengthened regulations concerning the possession and trafficking of native Ohio reptiles and amphibians. The updated laws protect and conserve native reptiles and amphibians, while maintaining options for their use for educational purposes.

Undercover officers posed as dealers, trappers, and customers in the sale of reptiles and amphibians. State wildlife officers monitored approximately 50 individual dealers and collectors allegedly involved in the unlawful commercialization and taking of species such as spotted turtles, Blanding’s turtles, fox snakes, black rat snakes, Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, timber rattlesnakes, Eastern box turtles and spotted salamanders. Individuals under investigation also allegedly dealt in federally protected species such as Indian pythons and indigo snakes.

So far hundreds of reptiles and amphibians, including non-venomous and venomous snakes have been recovered. Included in the recovery of venomous snakes was a black mamba, a species native to Africa which is considered one of the world’s most poisonous and aggressive snakes.

Ohio laws allow for the possession of limited quantities of some native species of reptiles and amphibians taken from the wild, and for the possession of animals by educational institutions. Snakes legally obtained from out-of-state or animals produced in captivity can be sold or traded. Proper permits from the ODNR Division of Wildlife are required in most instances.

“We encourage people to enjoy Ohio’s wildlife, including our interesting reptiles and amphibians. However, problems arose when individuals would not follow our permitting process, and animals were illegally taken or possessed,” said Quinlivan.

Many of the species sold for hundreds of dollars each. One of the dealers allegedly paid $25,000 for several illegally-collected snakes, and another sold more than 80 spotted salamanders allegedly taken from the wild. A collector contacted by undercover officers allegedly captured more than 2,000 snakes in just three days.

Law enforcement officers believe these illegal wild-caught animals were then funneled into the pet trade, many going out of state.

“Illegal collection and commercialization could potentially seriously harm wild populations of these animals here in Ohio and throughout the Midwest,” said Quinlivan. “And the more rare or unusual the animal, the more prized and higher the price paid. The amount of money involved was incredible.”

ODNR Division of Wildlife
OPERATION E&T
Criminal Charges as of July 1, 2003

Operation E & T - An undercover law enforcement investigation by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife in cooperation with the Departments of Natural Resources in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into the illegal possession, taking, and commercialization of reptiles and amphibians.

  • The below are charges by the ODNR Division of Wildlife that have been served on defendants as of this date. As many as 100 additional charges are being considered and/or prepared and can be expected to be served on some of the below defendants as well as additional defendants in days and weeks to come.
  • The charges below are misdemeanors of the 4th, 3rd, or 1st degree. Depending on the degree, they carry maximum penalties of up to $1000 fines and 120 days in jail, in addition to restitution for the animals involved and any other court orders such as probation, community service, etc.
  • The charges below do not include any felony indictments that are expected to be brought against additional defendants in the near future.

Defendants, Ages, Hometowns, and Charges

Ohio Residents:

  1. John Figgins, age 47, Lancaster, Ohio. 2 counts - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 2 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  2. Amy W. Zerkle, age 43, Columbus, Ohio. 2 counts-Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 2 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 2 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  3. Randall W. Snider, age 21, Columbus, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  4. James W. Brown, age 29, Columbus, Ohio. 1 count - Possess Ohio endangered species. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  5. Tunis W. Brunty, age 40, Mount Sterling, Ohio. 2 counts - Possess Ohio endangered species. 2 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  6. Mike S. Jolliff, age 30, Marion, Ohio. 2 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  7. Joel Roggelin, age 46, Toledo, Ohio. 5 counts - Sell wild animals
    without a valid permit. 7 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 5 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required. 4 counts - Buy reptiles or amphibians taken from the wild. 2 counts - Possess more than four of same species of reptiles and amphibians taken from wild. 1 count - Possess reptiles or amphibians prohibited to be taken from wild. 1 count - Sell wild caught reptiles.
  8. Dave Myers, age 39, Toledo, Ohio. 2 counts - Possess wild animal taken unlawfully outside Ohio. 3 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  9. Chad Byrnes, age 31, Mansfield, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required
  10. Bryan W. Hale, age 32, Ontario, Ohio. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  11. William Beard, age 36, Windsor, Ohio. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  12. Dan Rosier, age 45, Massillon, Ohio. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count- Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  13. Sherman D. Bell, age 37, Bloomingdale, Ohio. 3 counts - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 4 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records 4 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 2 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  14. Paul Newstead, age 34, Doylestown, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  15. Mike Orr, age 52, Akron, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit.
  16. Lawrence Young, age 65, Nashville, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Buy reptiles taken from the wild.
  17. Tony Gillian, age 26, Canton, Ohio. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required
  18. Ralph Salisbury, age 56, Middletown, Ohio. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required. 1 count - Take prohibited reptiles from wild.

    Out of State:
  19. Timothy P. Nichols, age 48, Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  20. Keith J. Dzialak, age 30, Warren, Michigan. 1 count - Possess wild animals without a valid permit.
  21. Evan A. Stahl, age 32, Hazel Park, Michigan. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  22. William R. Sands, age 40, Gregory, Michigan. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  23. Brian H. Barczyk, age 36, Saint Clair Shores, Michigan. 3 counts - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 3 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.
  24. John J. Kick, age 36, Middleport, New York. 2 counts - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 3 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required. 1 count - Possess more than four of same species of reptiles or amphibians taken from wild.
  25. Mike DeCamp, age 33, Berkley, Michigan. 1 count - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 1 count - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 1 count - Transport wild animals taken unlawfully from outside Ohio.
  26. Tom Nelson, age 53, Pontiac, Michigan. 4 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 22 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  27. Joseph W. Grad, age 51, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2 counts - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 2 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records. 2 counts - Possess native reptiles and fail to PIT tag as required.
  28. Paul Curtis, age 32, Erie, Pennsylvania. 2 counts - Sell wild animals without a valid permit. 2 counts - Possess wild animals and fail to maintain accurate records.

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com

For Further Information Contact:
Jim Lehman, ODNR Division of Wildlife
(614) 644-3925
-or-
Andy Ware, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882