Central Coast man pleads guilty to smuggling reptiles

A 30-year-old man Oxnard man pleaded guilty to bringing more than 1,700 wild animals into the country, including 60 reptiles that were found hidden in his clothes.

The man could get up to 45 years in federal prison under the law.

Jose Manuel Perez of Oxnard pleaded guilty to two counts of bringing illegal goods into the U.S. and one count of trafficking in wildlife. Investigators think that Perez stole more than $739,000 worth of wildlife.

Starting in January 2016, Perez and his partner used social media to plan to bring animals, mostly reptiles, from Mexico and Hong Kong into the United States. Perez brought Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards into the United States without getting permits. This was against the law for endangered species.

Perez rented a house in Tijuana and crossed into the United States from Mexico about 36 times between February 2021 and February 2022 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Perez was caught on February 25 when he tried to enter the United States with 60 reptiles in small bags hidden in his clothes.

Perez, who was free on bail, ran away to Tijuana on June 5. He was caught there and sent back to the United States.