Man Pleads Guilty to Turtle Smuggling From US to Hong Kong

A male Eastern Box Turtle moves across a path at Wildwood Lake Sanctuary in Harrisburg, Pa., on May, 2, 2009. Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

LOS ANGELES—A 54-year-old man pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges after wildlife inspectors at a Torrance mail facility intercepted packages containing protected eastern box turtles addressed to one of the defendant’s aliases in China.

Sai Keung Tin, of Hong Kong, entered his plea in Los Angeles federal court to four counts of exporting merchandise contrary to law, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.