California Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Smuggling 60 Reptiles Under His Clothes
A California man who was caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border with 60 live reptiles hidden under his clothing has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for his role in a six-year wildlife smuggling operation.
Jose Manuel Perez, 34, of Oxnard, was sentenced May 28 to 65 months in prison after pleading guilty in August 2022 to two counts of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California.
How He Was Caught
Perez was arrested in February 2022 at the San Ysidro port of entry in San Diego after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents pulled him aside for additional inspection. What they found was unusual even by border smuggling standards. Agents discovered dozens of lizards and snakes tied up in small bags and concealed in his jacket, pants pockets, and groin area.
In total, approximately 60 live reptiles were recovered from his person.
The Scope of the Operation
The arrest turned out to be the end of a smuggling ring that had been running since January 2016. Over that six-year period, Perez and his co-conspirators smuggled more than 1,700 wild animals into the United States from Mexico, Hong Kong, and other locations. The animals, which prosecutors valued at more than $739,000, were never declared at the border, and Perez never obtained the permits required under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES.
The species involved included Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, beaded lizards, horned lizards, and snakes — many of them protected under international wildlife trade agreements.
Perez, who also operated under the alias "Julio Rodriguez," used social media to coordinate the operation. Co-conspirators would retrieve wildlife from Ciudad Juárez International Airport in Mexico and transport it across the border into El Paso, Texas, where they were paid fees that varied based on the number of animals and the perceived risk of the run. In other instances, Perez traveled to Mexico himself to purchase animals that had been caught in the wild.
Once across the border, the animals were taken to Perez's residence, where they were then sold.
Already Serving Time
Perez is already serving a separate nine-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2023 to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. The 65-month wildlife trafficking sentence will be served on top of that existing term.
Why Wildlife Smuggling Matters
The illegal wildlife trade is among the most lucrative criminal enterprises in the world, generating billions of dollars annually and ranking alongside drug and arms trafficking in scale. Species like those Perez trafficked — many protected under CITES — face significant pressure from poaching and illegal collection for the exotic pet trade. When protected animals are removed from their native ecosystems and transported across international borders in bags stuffed into a smuggler's clothing, the survival rate for the animals is low, and the damage to wild populations can be lasting.
Federal prosecutors framed the case as a significant wildlife enforcement action. The sentence reflects the seriousness with which U.S. authorities are treating wildlife trafficking cases — particularly those involving protected species, international networks, and years of sustained criminal activity.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.