A Florida man pleaded guilty to two counts of Lacey Act Trafficking after a search warrant uncovered 120 turtles that the man possessed unlawfully.
Kevin Olbrych, 48, Spring Hill, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to the plea agreement, in 2018, officers from the Tampa Police Department executed a search warrant at Olbrych’s residence.
During the search, the officers discovered several 300-gallon pools filled with turtles and other containers for the rearing of turtles. In total, Olbrych unlawfully possessed 120 turtles.
Read: Missouri Mom Kills Son With Tablecloth In Florida, Ran Errands With The Boy’s Body In Car
The animals were not housed properly, and Olbrych did not have proper licensure to possess them.
Law enforcement confiscated the turtles and turned them over to an individual qualified to rehabilitate them on behalf of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
After the search, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began investigating Olbrych. The investigation revealed that for years Olbrych had illegally sold turtles to a co-conspirator in Oregon, who later sold them to buyers in China.
Further investigation revealed that even after law enforcement seized the turtles from Olbrych’s home in 2018, he continued to traffic in turtles through 2021.
A sentencing date for Olbrych has not yet been scheduled.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps