Savannah Nichole Valdez, a 21-year-old woman from Katy, Texas, has been sentenced to a year and three months in prison after pleading guilty to trying to sell endangered wildlife online. Valdez’s illegal activities first came to light when she attempted to smuggle a spider monkey into the US through the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville in March 2022.
Law enforcement officials discovered the spider monkey hidden in a wooden box in Valdez’s car, which she claimed was filled with beer. When asked to undergo a second inspection, Valdez refused and fled the scene, almost causing harm to officers in the process. Subsequent online posts offering a spider monkey for sale in the Greater Houston area led authorities to Valdez, who eventually turned herself in.
In addition to the spider monkey incident, Valdez was later found to be involved in the illegal sale of exotic birds, including keel-billed toucans and yellow-headed Amazon parrots, which are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act. An undercover operation conducted by law enforcement revealed that Valdez had arranged for the sale of these animals, with her mother and sister acting as intermediaries in the transactions.
As a result of her repeated offenses, Valdez’s original sentence of supervised release was revoked, and she was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. All the animals involved in these illegal activities have since been transferred to zoos within Texas.
The case of Savannah Nichole Valdez serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting endangered wildlife and preventing illegal trafficking of animals. The enforcement of laws such as the Lacey Act and the Endangered Species Act is crucial in safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable species and preserving biodiversity. By holding individuals like Valdez accountable for their actions, authorities are sending a strong message that wildlife crimes will not be tolerated.