Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Whale Teeth

A Spotsylvania man pleaded guilty to illegally importing sperm whale teeth, a violation of federal laws which outlaw the sale or trading of endangered marine animal parts.

In U.S. District Court in Richmond earlier today, Spotsylvania resident Richard Ertel admitted to two violations of the Lacey Act for selling sperm whale teeth. Classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and listed on international treaties banning the sale of endangered animal parts. 

Ertel admitted that he bought and sold sperm whale teeth for five years between April 2002 and June 2007. He says he would buy the teeth from sources in the Ukraine which he would then sell to customers in the United States over the internet. 

He was eventually busted by a multi-agency investigation carried out by enforcement officers from the National Oceacongraphic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

Ertel faces five years in prison and up to $500,000 in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan 9., 2012. 

Sperm whale teeth are used in the art form of scrimshaw. Classic works of scrimshaw, which sees the artist etch intricate images into pieces of bone or teeth from whales, dolphins and porpoises, can fetch prices in the thousands.