2 plead guilty to wildlife smuggling

Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2008 - 7:45 PM

Two women have admitted to smuggling into Minnesota and selling at a Hmong marketplace in St. Paul a host of products derived from various protected wildlife, including elephant, leopard, leaf monkey and weasel.

Pa Lor, age unknown, of Oakdale and Tia Yang, 36, of Lake Elmo each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis to one count of conspiracy to smuggle wildlife. Lor, who entered her plea Friday, and Yang, who pleaded guilty Thursday, face up to five years in prison each. As part of the plea agreement, charges that they also conspired to distribute anabolic steroids will be dropped.

Patrick Lund, the agent in charge of the St. Paul office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said at the time of the charges in May that "the market, which is fueled by traditional Asian medicinal and cultural needs, is having a devastating effect on some of the world's most critically endangered wildlife."

PAUL WALSH