Bad Guy William Gangemi (at repticon)

Incident was 5 years ago.
This one was last year.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/new-jersey-man-pleads-guilty-smuggling-over-1000-illegally-collected-box-turtles


Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Oklahoma

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 23, 2019

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Over 1,000 Illegally Collected Box Turtles from Oklahoma

TULSA, Okla. – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to conspiring with others to purchase, transport and sell more than 1,000 box turtles that were unlawfully collected from the state of Oklahoma, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores.

From May 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018, William T. Gangemi, 26, of Freehold, New Jersey, knowingly facilitated the purchase and transport of unlawfully collected three-toed and western (ornate) box turtles from Oklahoma to New Jersey in order to sell them for profit. Gangemi was part of a syndicate of wildlife smugglers where protected turtles were exchanged back and forth between the United States and China.

By smuggling the turtles, Gangemi violated the Lacey Act, a federal law which makes it a felony to engage in the sale or purchase of protected wildlife with a market value in excess of $350 knowing that the wildlife was taken, possessed, transported or sold in violation of laws or regulations of any state. In Oklahoma, the collection of both types of box turtles for commercial purposes is against the law. Box turtles reach sexual maturity at approximately 10 years of age and have a high nest and juvenile mortality rate. Due to these factors, the harvest of the turtles can have highly detrimental effects on populations.

“Oklahomans respect and value wildlife, and we don’t appreciate those who would seek to exploit our vulnerable wildlife populations for their corrupt greed. Laws created by Congress to protect wildlife, like the box turtle, will be enforced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Defendant Gangemi flagrantly violated state and federal laws by illegally collecting and exporting box turtles to the black market,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “As a result of the diligent investigative work undertaken by agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Mr. Gangemi must now face the consequences.”

“This case is an excellent example of how state and federal law enforcement agencies work together to combat the illegal wildlife trade," said Phillip Land, a Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We would like to thank the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the U. S. Attorney's Office for their assistance with this case. Together, we can hold traffickers accountable and protect imperiled species for future generations."

As part of his plea agreement, Gangemi agreed to pay $250,000 in restitution to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and a $100,000 fine to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for violation of the Lacey Act. The final restitution and fine amounts will be determined by the Court at the time of sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2020.

Gangemi also pleaded guilty to additional federal charges for trafficking wildlife in South Carolina and New Jersey.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan M. Roberts is prosecuting the case.
 
I saw a lecture by a conservationist who claimed that the unnatural loss of even a single adult turtle can have a significant impact on a population. Imagine the devastation caused by the loss of 1000. Anyone who claims to care about wild populations of reptiles should boycott this guy for life.
 
I saw a lecture by a conservationist who claimed that the unnatural loss of even a single adult turtle can have a significant impact on a population. Imagine the devastation caused by the loss of 1000. Anyone who claims to care about wild populations of reptiles should boycott this guy for life.




From the day he came on the scene, I had an bad intuition about him, and for the life of me, didn't know why, but the feeling was strong enough, that I never purchased from him. But did deal with one of his family members years ago, Ray, when he was in charge of the reptiles at Pet Farm, eons ago, 1979 & 1980 to be exact.


Now, that is if Gangemi was telling the truth about Ray being his uncle..


I know from this thread now, why I had this unsettling intuition.


Good things come to those, and he's getting his......
 
Agreed, Elena. After all, seems only fair that he receive the same sentence that all those animals received for years .... involuntary confinement, torture, hunger, pain ...
 
Agreed, Elena. After all, seems only fair that he receive the same sentence that all those animals received for years .... involuntary confinement, torture, hunger, pain ...

Then you would be including everyone else here including yourself. That is of course any animal you have told you they wanted to live with you.
 
Then you would be including everyone else here including yourself. That is of course any animal you have told you they wanted to live with you.

Right, because all captive herps are treated in the same way as are turtles that are poached and smuggled to China.

Go ahead and oversimplify the matter, though, if it makes you feel superior.
 
LOL, Will Nelson! Comparing illlegal collection and smuggling of thousands of turtles to China (just his LATEST case alone) with responsible legal herp ownership is just laughable at best.
There is NO comparison.

Are you defending his actions?

You must still be holding a grudge against me for my criticism in your long-ago thread. You know the one ... I got bad karma from you back then, remember? :rotflmao:
 
Obviously you are not seeing my point to what you stated previously which is not at all surprising.

Agreed, Elena. After all, seems only fair that he receive the same sentence that all those animals received for years .... involuntary confinement, torture, hunger, pain ...

There is your comparison. You may want to edit your previous reply and use something else to describe it.

Where did I say I was defending anything, you just used the wrong words of which described yourself as well. Think before you decide to reply to something just to make yourself look like the savior to all animals.
 
Obviously you are not seeing my point to what you stated previously which is not at all surprising.

Agreed, Elena. After all, seems only fair that he receive the same sentence that all those animals received for years .... involuntary confinement, torture, hunger, pain ...

There is your comparison. You may want to edit your previous reply and use something else to describe it.

Where did I say I was defending anything, you just used the wrong words of which described yourself as well. Think before you decide to reply to something just to make yourself look like the savior to all animals.

Yeah, okay. You don't like my "involuntary confinement" words (of which described myself as well? Huh?) So sorry, Professor Nit-Picker. All I did was agree with Elena, but added my own "wrong" words. I'm deeply sorry those words did not meet with your standards or criteria. However, I hardly portrayed myself as "the savior to all animals", lol. That said, your valuable contribution here is noted (all 30-something posts) and I stand scolded, ashamed and corrected.

You're really looking a tad immature and petty, Professor ... but still good for a chuckle. Continue NOT to think before you decide to reply. :)
 
Yeah, okay. You don't like my "involuntary confinement" words (of which described myself as well? Huh?) So sorry, Professor Nit-Picker. All I did was agree with Elena, but added my own "wrong" words. I'm deeply sorry those words did not meet with your standards or criteria. However, I hardly portrayed myself as "the savior to all animals", lol. That said, your valuable contribution here is noted (all 30-something posts) and I stand scolded, ashamed and corrected.

You're really looking a tad immature and petty, Professor ... but still good for a chuckle. Continue NOT to think before you decide to reply. :)

It sounds like you are getting upset. At least you can agree with me but how about you do it without being facetious? You likely cant because that would show you were incorrect. If you worded you reply differently then we wouldn't be having this conversation now would we?

And remember, quality before quantity. Commenting about someones' forum post count is pretty petty. Almost as if since one person has more posts they are more superior to the others' with less.... There was actually a good published article in medical journal somewhere about 5-6 years ago that compared that to low self esteem in the real (non internet) world and an individual's online persona.

Now, saying I am nitpicking is highly inaccurate because the definition of that word is the looking for unimportant faults or errors. What you stated is highly important. You are saying that he should be "involuntary confined" because that is what he did to those animals. Now doesn't that apply to everyone who "involuntary confines" animals? I would say it does.

I'm just a third party looking in on a conversation and keeping it neutral is all.
 
Sigh ... yeah, okay Will. Keeping it neutral, lol. I am hardly upset nor have a problem with self esteem. Nor will I agree with you or lose my sarcastic tone.
Your feigned intellect / pseudo psychology is wearing thin, not to mention boring.

Please go find someone else to pick on or obsess over.
 
Because a twice-convicted wildlife smuggler needs someone in his corner, too, I suppose?

Yeah. Well. Um.

Stating "someone in his corner" would imply I am taking sides. Did I say neutral? I think I did but looks like selective reading is running rampant again.


Sigh ... yeah, okay Will. Keeping it neutral, lol. I am hardly upset nor have a problem with self esteem. Nor will I agree with you or lose my sarcastic tone.
Your feigned intellect / pseudo psychology is wearing thin, not to mention boring.

Please go find someone else to pick on or obsess over.

My intellect is real unfortunately for you. I'm not one of the usual people here you and your normal pack of groupies can gang up on that don't know any better. I'm not picking on anyone and for sure obsessing is out of the question. Again, my point is ignored like usual when the facts are out in the open.

You wont agree or lose your sarcastic tone because you are egotistical. The facts are right there yet you continue to deny it....

Ill get that article for you. It would be a good read for you. You may need it when the BOI goes away and your superiority of post count possibly goes away with it if the threads are removed.
 
I had a experience of dealing with him and let me say one thing just gonwith your gut feeling wish I had that's all I will say

Uh, I think we’d actually like to hear more of what you might have to say. It’s a bit frowned upon to make cryptic statements like this in the BOI.
 
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