United States Attorney Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr.
Eastern District of Louisiana

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: ANNA CHRISTMAN
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2015


PHONE: (504) 680-3171
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE

FAX: (504) 589-4978
TWITTER: @EDLANEWS

ILLINOIS MAN SENTENCED
FOR VIOLATING THE LACEY ACT
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite announced that KEITH CANTORE, age
35, from Monee, Illinois, was sentenced today for violating the Lacey Act by attempting to
purchase threatened turtles that were captured in violation of state law.

U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt sentenced CANTORE to 41 months
incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release and $100 special assessment.
Additionally, CANTORE was ordered to pay approximately $41,000 in restitution.
According to court records, CANTORE was charged with three counts of purchasing
and/or attempting to purchase threatened species of turtles that were illegally captured from the
wild. CANTORE pled guilty to attempted purchase of 100 North American Wood Turtles for
$40,000.
According to court documents, the charges against CANTORE stemmed from
undercover operations conducted by agents from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service,
Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Court
documents also note that CANTORE was previously convicted of federal charges related to the
illegal sale of turtles and that he continued to illegally sell turtles while on bond for the current
charges.
“The illicit trade in threatened and endangered species represents the destructive results
of unfettered greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Raymond R. Parmer, head of ICE Homeland
Security Investigations in New Orleans. “The poaching of Wood Turtles has had a significant
negative impact on its population in the wild. In effect, this defendant was willing to help drive
this species to extinction to make a few bucks. Law enforcement agencies like HSI and our
partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are eager to
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work with conservation services to stop the illegal trade in wildlife to ensure future generations
get to enjoy these species in their native habitats.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has sought for hundreds of years those who use the
Postal Service for illegal gain,” stated Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez. “The ability to use
the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service’s
mission. When wildlife traffickers use the mail to further their criminal activity in an inhumane
manner, Postal Inspectors will work tirelessly to ensure they are brought to justice. The
investigators of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S.
Postal Inspection Service deployed innovative criminal investigative techniques to this case,
bringing all those involved to justice and should be commended.”

"This case illustrates our commitment to fighting the illegal wildlife trade,” said U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Assistant Director Ed Grace. “The unlawful international
trade in turtles fuels an unsustainable market that will drive our wild native species to extinction.
I would like to commend investigators with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homeland
Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Justice for their
dedication in this investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Homeland
Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in investigating this
matter. Assistant United States Attorney David Haller was in charge of the prosecution.
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