A South Carolina man admitted guilt on Thursday for bringing in and selling sperm whale teeth and bones from four countries in the United States, according to federal prosecutors.
Lauren H. Deloha, 69, of St. Helena, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to violating the Lacy Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act by importing and selling sperm whale parts. The US Attorney’s Office in South Carolina reported this.
Deloach is said to have imported sperm teeth and bones into South Carolina from July 2022 to September 2024, including at least 30 shipments from Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine, as revealed in court documents and statements made in court.
He allegedly sold around $18,000 worth of at least 85 pieces on eBay, falsely labeling them as “plastic” to evade detection by customs officials, according to prosecutors.
Authorities mentioned that they confiscated about $20,000 worth of sperm whale parts while searching his residence.
It remains unclear how Deloach acquired these items and who purchased them from him. Teeth and bones are sought after for use in artworks like sculptures, prosecutors stated.
Sperm whales, the largest toothed whales, inhabit deep waters worldwide, from the equator to the edges of ice in the Arctic and Antarctic, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Females can grow up to 40 feet long, while males can reach up to 52 feet long, as per the agency.
Sperm whales have been safeguarded since 1970 under the Endangered Species Act and the International Treaty on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Lacey Act criminalizes the illegal sale of wildlife that was imported illegally, prosecutors mentioned.
“Illegal wildlife trafficking is a multi-billion dollar global enterprise, with animals and fuels protecting organized crime,” stated Brooke B. Andrews, acting US attorney for South Carolina. “We will uphold the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Vulnerable species like sperm whales have been slaughtered for profit.”
Deloach’s attorney, Nathan S. Williams, mentioned in a statement on Sunday that Deloach “regretted his actions and took responsibility for them.”
Deloha faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine for felony Lacey Act violations, and up to one year in prison for misdemeanor violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
This incident was the latest involving protected wildlife.
In February, a California couple reached a plea agreement in Butte County, California. They were caught by wildlife officers smuggling mountain lion trophies and turtle skulls in their carry-on bags, breaching fish and game laws. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife stated.
Source: www.nytimes.com
