BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A woman in Katy, Texas, who tried to sell a monkey that was illegally smuggled into the United States from Mexico, had pled guilty, the Department of Justice said.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Savannah Nicole Valdez, 20, has pleaded guilty to smuggling wildlife into the United States without declaring it or invoicing it prior to fleeing the immigration checkpoint.
The DOJ said on March 21, Valdez tried to come into the United States through the Gateway International Bridge located in Brownsville, Texas. Law enforcement officers at the immigration checkpoint saw a wooden box with holes inside her car. Valdez reportedly told the officers that the box had beer in it that she bought in Mexico.
According to KHOU, officials opened the box and found a living spider monkey inside. They told her to get an additional inspection, but she refused and sped off. Valdez then ran a red light and almost hit officers.
The DOJ said that, later in the day, agents found a few postings online selling the spider monkey in the Katy and Houston areas. The postings had Valdez’s number listed.
On March 28, Valdez contested authorities and turned herself in, admitting that she knowingly imported the monkey, did not declare it and fled the area from law enforcement intentionally, according to the DOJ.
The DOJ said the monkey was recovered and placed with an animal shelter in the central Florida area.
According to KHOU, Valdez is expected to be sentenced in January 2023. She could face up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible maximum fine of $250,000.
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