In the first case brought under The Big Cat Act, an Alamo partners has been detained for selling protected animals, according to U.S. Attorney alamdar S. Hamdani.
On September 27, Rafael Gutierrez-Galvan, a legal permanent resident, and his family Deyanira Garza, 28, appeared in federal judge in McAllen.
A margay baby was sold by Gutierrez-Galvan on August 24 for$ 7,500 in a parking lot near the Academy Sports and Outdoors, according to the criminal complaint.
Finally, on September 26, Gutierrez-Galvan made an attempt to sell the same person a tiger cub. He reportedly gave his wife the go-ahead to transport some money to the location from their home. Before she could reach and find the money, though, police stopped a car.
Both Gutierrez-Galvan and Garza lack the necessary permits to purchase, sell, trade, or travel wild animals like margays and jaguars.
Authorities found both species.
The importation, transportation, selling, and hands of prohibited wildlife species are all prohibited by the Big Cat Act, which was passed in December 2022. A tiger is a species that is not allowed. The Endangered Species Act also forbids the vehicles, purchase, importation, and exportation of threatened and endangered species. There is a list of endangered varieties for cheetahs.
Gutierrez-Galvan and Garza could receive a maximum fine of$ 20,000 and up to five years in federal prison if found guilty.
The investigation was carried out with the help of Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Houston and San Antonio Zoos, and the Fish & Wildlife Service and Homeland Security Investigations. The situation is being prosecuted by assistant U. S. Attorney Devin V. Walker.
