MA Man Charged With Trafficking Exotic Animal Skulls, Skins, And Claws

READING, MA — A Massachusetts man is facing several charges after being accused of trafficking wildlife parts from endangered and protected species, the United States Attorney's Office said Friday.

Adam Bied, 39, of Reading was found with more than 100 wildlife parts including orangutan skulls, tiger skulls, jaguar skin, and other parts from endangered, threatened, or protected species in his home, a storage unit, and a vehicle, according to officials.

"The illicit trafficking of endangered wildlife for financial gain is a grave offense that poses a significant threat to global conservation efforts and preservation of these species," Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy said Friday. "Mr. Bied's alleged conduct reflects a blatant disregard for the laws in place to safeguard our planet's biodiversity."

From at least Jan. 2018 until June 2021, Bied bought, sold, and traded in wildlife parts and products, with the knowledge that many of the transactions violated U.S. laws and regulations and knowingly failed to declare this wildlife upon importation into the United States, court documents say.

"Specifically, Bied allegedly placed orders with individuals in Cameroon and Indonesia who were in the business of killing and acquiring wildlife — including endangered and protected species — which he then resold or traded to customers in the United States," the U.S. Attorney's Office said. "Bied did not possess a United States Fish and Wildlife Service import/export license or necessary Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora permits, and allegedly failed to declare the wildlife to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service upon import."

Other wildlife parts are also subject to forfeiture as they are alleged to have been acquired in violation of the Endangered Species Act or the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to officials.

The wildlife parts identified in the civil forfeiture complaint include:

• Orangutan skulls;
• Tiger skulls;
• Leopard skin, skulls and claw;
• Jaguar skin and skull;
• African lion skulls;
• Polar bear skull;
• Narwhal tusk;
• Otter skeleton;
• Harp seal skull;
• South American fur seal skull;
• Elephant seal skull;
• Babirusa skulls;
• Mandrillus skulls;
• Wallaby skull; and
• Jackal skull

Bied is charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and three counts of violating the Lacey Act which prohibits trafficking in wildlife. It is alleged that the wildlife was protected by the Endangered Species Act as well as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

The charges of conspiracy as well as the charges under the Lacey Act each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.