A Houston woman has been sentenced for illegally selling wild animals, including a monkey and exotic birds. Savannah Nicole Valdez, 21, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to the charges.
It was discovered that Valdez had been involved in smuggling a monkey into the United States and onto a high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint. This led to her initial sentence of two years of supervised release, which has since been revoked and replaced with additional prison time.
In the summer of 2023, authorities found multiple Craigslist posts advertising keel-billed toucans and yellow-headed Amazon parrots for sale, both of which are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. Further investigation revealed that the contact number listed for the animals matched Valdez’s personal cell phone number.
Undercover authorities set up a sale of two keel-billed toucans and a Mexican spider monkey, which were eventually sold by Valdez’s mother and sister at Memorial City Mall in Houston. The animals were later transferred to zoos within Texas.
U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani expressed the seriousness of Valdez’s actions, stating, “When Savannah Valdez sold a Mexican spider monkey, she contributed to endangering a species. Those who traffic in infant spider monkeys shoot the mothers first and then pull the infants from their mother’s dead bodies before throwing them into cages for transport. Valdez’s actions helped sustain an illicit market that encouraged the needless death and suffering of endangered animals.”
Valdez is permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future. This case serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences of illegal wildlife trafficking and the importance of protecting endangered species.
The authorities are taking a strong stance against such illegal activities, and individuals like Valdez are facing significant penalties for their actions. It is crucial to raise awareness about the impact of wildlife trafficking and work towards preserving and protecting these vulnerable species for future generations.