FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ENR

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1994 (202) 616-0189

TDD (202) 514-1888

FOUR SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS

BIRDS INTO THE UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice announced the sentencing

of four persons today by the U.S. District Court in Corpus Christi, Texas
for their role in smuggling potentially hazardous birds into the United
States. The defendants are part of a decade-long operation to smuggle
parrots from Mexico, Central and South America into the U.S. The smuggling,
which poses the risk of disease to domestic poultry, violates smuggling
statutes, the Endangered Species Act and Dept. of Agriculture regulations.

Parrots are carriers of a virus which causes Newcastle Disease, which

is not found in birds in the United States. The disease, for which there is
no treatment or cure, is particularly dangerous to domestic poultry and can
spread so rapidly as to require eradication of entire poultry populations.
Since 1971, the Department of Agriculture has paid more than $75 million to
indemnify owners of flocks that fell prey to the disease.

In addition to threatening domestic livestock, the illegal parrot trade

poses considerable hazard to the parrots themselves. As many as 90 percent are
estimated to die between the time they are poached and when they are
shipped to the United States, and smuggling threatens breeds like the Yellow-
naped Amazon parrot with extinction.

"Today's sentences send the message that we will prosecute and punish
animal smugglers wherever we find them," said Acting Assistant Attorney General
for Environment and Natural Resources Lois Schiffer.

The defendants sentenced today were Irene Vasquez of Sandia, TX (5 years

probation), Randolph Rosenson of Avondale, LA (1 year in jail, $1,000 fine),
George Thorn of Miami, FL (8 months in jail, $1,500 fine) and Mary Orozco of
Sandia, TX (1 year). The sentencing of defendant Cazares Salazar, of
Montemorelos, TX was postponed.

A total of 12 defendants were indicted following a February 7, 1992 seizure

of 70 baby parrots in Austin, Texas. An investigation conducted jointly with
the U.S. Customs Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uncovered a
network of parrot smuggling and distribution to bird hobbyists and pet shops.
Of the remaining defendants, one pled guilty and another was convicted of
conspiracy charges, three are in a pretrial diversion program, one had charges
dismissed, and another is awaiting trial.

###
94-546