Texas boot dealer jailed for smuggling sea turtle skins

From a story from the Environmental News Service:

DENVER, Colorado, June 2, 2008 (ENS) - Jorge Caraveo of El Paso, Texas, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court in Denver to serve 18 months in prison for his participation in the sale and smuggling of sea turtle and other exotic skins and skin products into the United States from Mexico.

Along with the prison term, Caraveo was sentenced to three years supervised release and a $300 special assessment, the Justice Department announced.

Caraveo and 10 others were indicted in Denver in August 2007 following a multi-year undercover investigation named Operation Central, conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Branch of Special Operations.

Caraveo and six other defendants were arrested in Texas and Colorado on September 6, 2007. All seven have pleaded guilty.

Caraveo pleaded guilty on January 29, 2008 to three felony counts of smuggling.