Current:Home > reviewsRare birdwing butterflies star in federal case against NY man accused of trafficking insects -AdvancementTrade
Rare birdwing butterflies star in federal case against NY man accused of trafficking insects
View
Date:2025-04-15 15:45:41
NEW YORK (AP) — Birdwing butterflies are among the rarest and largest to grace the planet, their 10-inch wingspans flapping through the rainforests of Southeast Asia and Australia. Their sheer size can make them hard to miss.
But the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn says Charles Limmer made tens of thousands of dollars over the past year by illegally trafficking scores of flying insects, including endangered birdwings — whose numbers have fallen because of diminishing habitat and illegal poaching.
The six-count indictment against Limmer, 75, accuses him of working with overseas collaborators to smuggle some 1,000 lepidoptera, including some of the rarest and most endangered moths and butterflies in the world.
Federal authorities in New York say the Long Island man smuggled dried specimens of the species, circumventing U.S. laws by labeling shipments as “decorative wall coverings,” “origami paper craft” and “wall decorations.”
Attempts to reach Limmer by phone and email were unsuccessful.
Federal law prohibits the commercial export or import of wildlife without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional authorization would need to be secured for endangered species, as part of an international partnership to protect wildlife from trafficking.
Limmer previously had a federal license to import and export wildlife, but it was suspended in October 2022.
Since then, the indictment alleges, Limmer illegally imported and exported more than $200,000 worth of shipments.
An eBay page of a seller going by “limmerleps” shows the account had made more than 4,600 sales on the shopping platform, many of the most recent sales were moths and butterflies. There were two birdwing specimens currently on sale and two were sold over the past year, according to the website.
An Etsy page connected to a seller going by the name “Limmer” had four ads for birdwings still advertised on Wednesday, including featuring a collection of five specimens with an asking price of $133.
The indictment also seeks to force Limmer to give up his collection of some 1,000 butterflies, moths and other insects prosecutors say he illegally procured from overseas.
veryGood! (411)
Related
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- One year after liberation, Ukrainians in Kherson hold on to hope amid constant shelling
- Union says striking workers at Down East mill have qualified for unemployment benefits
- John Stamos talks joining the Beach Boys and being SO. HANDSOME.
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- U.S. arm of China mega-lender ICBC hit by ransomware attack
- Puerto Rico dentist fatally shot a patient who alleged attacked him at the office, police say
- The man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband was caught up in conspiracies, defense says
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- Khloe Kardashian Gives Inside Look at 7th Birthday Party for Niece Dream Kardashian
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Why Taylor Swift Is Canceling Argentina Eras Tour Concert
- Mitch McConnell, standing apart in a changing GOP, digs in on his decades-long push against Russia
- Jezebel's parent company shuts down feminist news website after 16 years
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- USC quarterback Caleb Williams addresses crying video after loss to Washington
- Sudanese American rapper Bas on using music to cope with the brutal conflict in Sudan
- Iceland evacuates town and raises aviation alert as concerns rise a volcano may erupt
Recommendation
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
What is the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal? We break it down.
College Football Playoff announces Air Force's Richard Clark as new executive director
5.0 magnitude quake strikes Dominican Republic near border with Haiti
Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
What Britney Spears' book taught me about resilience and self love
Local election workers have been under siege since 2020. Now they face fentanyl-laced letters
Is C.J. Stroud's early NFL success a surprise? Not if you know anything about his past.