An executive official of a Beverly Hills gallery and auction house pleaded guilty to conspiring to smuggling products made from rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory and coral, valuing $1 million. Authorities reported that the auctioneer sells it to foreigners, by stating that items were made of bone, wood or plastic.
Joseph Chait, 38 years old, who was a senior auction administrator of the I.M. Chait Asian art gallery and auction house pleaded guilty to two counts on in a New York federal court on Wednesday, ABC News reported. According to the prosecutors, Chait falsified customs forms by stating ivory and rhino horn were made of bone, wood or plastic. He is also involved in helping Chinese clients and other foreign clients to smuggle products out of the country.
He also sold a rhino carving at auction for $230,000, but on paperwork stated that it was worth $108.75, stating the item is made of plastic, according to Reuters. US law enforcement officials and wildlife conservationist had been keen on cracking down on illegal trades of items from the said endangered species.
Chait violated a federal law that prohibits trading of illegally gained wildlife and falsified paperworks, New York Post reported. "Mr. Chait takes full responsibility for his conduct and is very sorry for his actions," Judith Germano, his representing lawyer said. The defendant's sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2016.
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a treaty signed by over 170 countries around the world. Trade in protected wildlife such as rhinoceros horn and elephant ivory has been significantly restricted in the last two years. It is the result of a Presidential Executive Order except for those instances where sellers can prove that the item is a genuine antique that is more than 100 years of age.
John C. Cruden, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division said in a statement that rhinos and elephants have been on earth for millennia but are now at grave risk due to the illegal wildlife trade.
