WASHINGTON, DC – A Florida man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to accusations that he tried to “illegally export thousands of turtles” to other countries, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
DOJ officials said that between 2015 and 2021, the man — John Kreatsoulas, 36, of Alva — was the owner of Omni Reptiles, an unregistered Florida business in Lee County.
“Omni was in the business of domestic and international wholesale trade of wildlife, including protected species of reptiles,” a release from the DOJ states.
The release shows that Kreatsoulas and others captured various species of turtles from the wild, including Three-Stripe mud turtles.
Omni Reptiles then shipped the wildlife to customers in the U.S. and foreign countries — such as Germany and Hong Kong — through the Miami International Airport, according to the agency.
In addition, Kreatsoulas “falsified” federal forms involved with the shipments to show that these turtles were captive-bred instead of wild-caught, the DOJ announced.
In all, Kreatsoulas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife and nine counts of falsifying records in violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits trafficking in wildlife that was illegally taken.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 17 at 1:30 p.m. Kreatsoulas faces up to five years in prison for each count — a maximum total of 50 years.
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