South Carolina

South Carolina man sentenced for role in turtle smuggling scheme

A turtle was killed after it was hit by a tire and was hurled backward into the windshield of an oncoming car.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A New Jersey wildlife trader has been sentenced to two years' probation for his role in a reptile smuggling ring that stretched from South Carolina to Hong Kong.

[ALSO READ: 33 live birds smuggled into U.S. in curlers; passenger arrested at JFK]

The State reports 26-year-old William "Billy" Gangemi was sentenced Monday for conspiracy to smuggle wildlife in the scheme that involved hiding rare turtles in candy wrappers or socks and shipping them overseas.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Gangemi avoided prison time as his role in the scheme - collecting the turtles - wasn't as extensive as his counterparts.

South Carolina ringleader Steven Verren Baker, Matt Kail and Joseph Logan Brooks previously were each sentenced to prison in the scheme. The newspaper says these are believed to the first prison sentences in the state for illegal turtle trading.

Associated Press

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