UYITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SO UT H ERN D ISTR ICT O F FL O RID A

Case N o.

16 U.S.C. j 3372(* 42)

16 U.S.C. j 3373(d)(3)(A)(i)

18 U.S.C. j 371

18 U.S.C. j 554

18 U.S.C. j 2

U M TED STA TES O F AM ERIC A

V.

K A YE UN G M AR V IN CH A N ,

D efendant. /

INFORM ATION

The United States Attorney for the Southem District of Flodda and the Assistant Attomey

General for the Environm ent and Natural Resources Division of the United States Departm ent of

Justice (hereinafter collectively referred to as the GlGovernmenf') charge that:

G EN ER AI, ALLE G AT IO N S

A t a11 tim es m aterial to this Inform atlon:

The Lacey Act makes it unlawful for any person to m ake or submit any false record,

account, or label for, or any false identification of any wildlife, including reptiles and any part,

product, egg, or offspring thereof, which has been, or is intended to be . . . transpol-ted in interstate

or foreign commerce. 16 U.S.C. j 3372(d)(2).

2. The Lacey Act defines Gtwildlife'' as Giany wild anim al, whether alive or dead,

including without lim itation any wild m nm m al, bird, reptile, nm plzibian, fish, m ollusk, crustacean,

22-20460-CR-ALTONAGA/DAMIAN

Sep 27, 2022

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 1 of 12

MM
arthropod,coelenterate,orotherinvertebrate,whetherornotbred,hatched,orbornin captivity,

andincludesanypat product,egg,oroffspringthereof.''16U.S.C.j3371(a).

3. ln orderto protectcertain species againstover-exploitation,the United States

becnm easignatoryto an internationaltreaty lcnown astheConvention on InternationalTradein

Endangered SpeciesofWildFaunaandFlora(hereinafter(ICITES').Appendix lofCITES

includesspecieswhich arethreatenedwithextinctionandforwhichtrademustbesubjectto

particularly strictregulation atldforwhichno tradeisallowedforcomm ercialpmposes.CITES,

Art.11at! 1.Appendix11ofCITESincludeswildlifespeciesthatalthoughnotnecessarily

tk eatenedwithextinctionnow ,maybecom esounlesstradeinspecim ensofsuchspeciesisstrictly

regulated.CITES,Art.11at!2.

4. The United States Fish and W ildlife Service (TUSFW S'D,Departmentofthe

Interior,isdesignated byCongresspursuanttotheEndangered SpeciesActC&ESA''),Title16,

UnitedStatesCode,Section1537(a),astheCITESenforcementauthoritywithintheUnitedStates.

TheDepartm entoftheInteriorpublishesregulationstoim plem entCITES in50C.F.R.PM 23.A

listofal1speciesprotectedbyCITESandtheESA implem entationprogram ism aintainedpursuant

totheConventionbytheCITESSecretariat.50C.F.R.jj23.7and23.9.

The provisions of CITES are implemented through the ESA,whioh states in

relevantpm't,Eltisunlawfulforanyperson...toengageinanytradeinanyspeoimens(ofwildlifej

contrarytotheprovisionsof...(CITES)ortopossessanyspecimens(ofwildlifejtradedcontrary

totheprovisionsof...ECITESq.''çTrade''means,nmongothertlzings,texport.''CITES,A14.Iat

!(c).çtspecimen''meansKanyanimal...whetheraliveordead.''CITES,A14.Iat!((b).

6. Balpythons(pythonrcgïîfxç),boaconstrictors(boactpnuç/rjcforimperatorj,Sumatra

short-tailedpythons+ythoncurtus),commoniguanas(iguanafgz/tmtz),argentinetegus(salvator

2

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 2 of 12
n#scens),andcommontegus(salvatormerianae)areprotectedunderAppendix11ofCITES.

Beforeexportingaspecim enofanyanimalprotectedunderAppendix11ofCITESfrom theUnited

States,avalidCITESexportpetmlitmustbeobtained.CITES,Art.IVat!2;50C.F.R.â23.20(c).

A separateoriginaloratruecopy ofaCITES docum entmustbeissuedbeforetheexportoccurs

andthedocumentmustaccompanyeachshipment.50C.F.R.j23.26(19.

In ordertostreamlinetheexportationofcaptivebredreptiles,theUSFW S created

theCITEStGlMqasterFile''permittingprogram .M asterFilepennitsallow reptilebreederstoobtain

multiplepartially com pleted CITES expol'tdocum entsatonetim e,thuseliminatingtheneedto

individualyapplyfordocumentationforeachsingleexport.50C.F.R.jj13.11and23.51.

8. A ûEM asterFile''permitissued by USFW S pursuantto CITES isvalidduringthe

period specified on theface ofthepermit,andby itsterms,reptilebreedersarenotallowed to

exportCITESprotededreptiles(snakes,turtles,geckos,etc.)capturedinthewild.50C.F.R.jj

13.21and23.544seealsoU SFW S Fonu 3-200-85.

9. ReptilebreedersmustsubmitaCITES Form 3-201A (CITES Permit)to the

USFWSwitheachreptileshipmenttheyintendtoexport.Bysulmissionofthisform,thereptile

breedercertifiesthata11reptilescoveredbytheperm itwerebred andhatchedfrom parentalstock

maintainedattheirfacility.50C.F.R.j23.26.

10. A1l exports of wildlife m ust be accompanied by a USFW S Fonn 3-177, a

Declaration forImportation orExportation ofFish orW ildlife,listing nmong otherthings,the

speciesandapplicableCITESpermitnumbers.50C.F.R.j14.63.

In ordertofacilitatethe comm ercialexportprocess,many businessesemploy the

servicesofacustom sbroker.CustomsbrokersareregulatedandempoweredbyU.S.Custom sand

BorderProtection (tCBP'')to assistimporters and exportersin meeting U.S.government

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 3 of 12
requirem ents govelming imports and expol-ts.However,with respectto exporting wildlife,the

exporteremployingaM asterFilepermitisresponsibleforensuringthatallinvoices,exportforms

and CITES declarationsare true and con'ectsincethewildlifemustoriginatefrom hisparental

stock,locatedathisfacility.

12. KA YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN CICHANA')wasan intemationalreptiledealer

associated with a reptile business located in M ongKok,Kowloon,Hong Kong. Tilrough his

business,CHAN sold,among otherreptiles,ballpythons(python regius),common iguanas

(iguanaiguanaj,argentinetegus(salvator?'@c,çccn,çl,andcommontegus(salvatormerianae),al1

ofwhich areCITESAppendix11species.

Co-conspirator 1(CC-1)wasaresidentofMinmi,Florida,who owned and

operated abusinessknownasDynastyReptiles,locatedinM inm i,Florida.Throughhisbusiness,

CC-Ibred,stored,received,sold,andexportedreptiles.

cci-lcurrentlyholdsaCITE!MasterFilepermit(MasterFile)whichis.validuntil

July 12,2023. CC-Id/b/aDynasty Reptileshasbeen a CITES M asterFileperm itholderfrom

2008tothepresent.PriortoissuanceoftheM asterFilepermit,CC-Iwasrequired to subm itto

USFW Sphotographsofhisfacility,documentationastowherehisparentalstockcamefrom,the

estimated productioncapacity ofspecim ens,theanticipatedvolumeofexportofspecim ens,and

thenormalm ortalityratesforspecimensatthefacility.PursuanttohisM asterFilepermit,CC-I

is allowed to byeed certain reptilesfrom lziscertified parentalstock (bred irlcaptivity)for

comm ercialsaleandexport.

On oraboutJuly 13,2020,CC-I renewed his M asterFile permitforspecific

captivebredspeciesrearedf'rom hisfacility inM iami,Florida.Therenew alletterfrom USFW S

authorizedCC-Ionlytoexportbred-in-captivityspecimensofbalpython(pythonrcgfzfl'),boa

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 4 of 12
constrictor(boaconstrictorimperator),Sumatrashort-tailedpython+ythoncurtus),common

iguana (iguana iguana),argentine tegu (salvator nfescens),and common tegu (salvator

merianae).Therenewalletterdeclaredthat:(1)CC-Iwastheonlyoneauthorizedtoexportunder

thatMajterFilepermit;(2)CC-Iwasaujhorizedonlytoexportbred-in-captivity specimens

produoedatCC-1'sbusiness',and(3)CC-Iwasprohibitedfrom allowingthepermitsissuedunder

theM asterFilepermittobeusedby,givento,orsharedwith anyoneelse.

16. Co-conspirator2 (CC-2)wasaresidentofYokohnma,Japan,who owned and

operatedabusinessltnownasM aniacReptiles.

COUNT 1

Conjpiracy

(18U.S.C.j371)

1. TheGeneralAllegationssection ofthisInformation isrealleged and incop orated

byreferencehèrein,asthough setforthinitsentirety.

Begirming in or around October 2013,the exact date being llnknown,m'1d

continuingup to and includingon oraboutAugust27,2021,in the Southem Distrid ofFlorida

andelsewhere,thedefendant,

K A YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN,

didwilfully,thatiswiththeintenttoftzrthertheobjectsoftheconspiracy,andknowingly

combine,conspire,confederate,and agreewith otherpersonsboth known and unknown to the

Government,includingCC-IandCC-2,tocom mitcertainoffensesagainsttheUnitedStates,that

a. to makeand submitany falserecord,account,and labelfor,orany false

identitk ation ofany wildlife,includingreptilesandanypaz't,product,egg,

oroffspringthereof,whichhasbeen,andisintendedtobeexported and ..

. transportedin interstateandforeign comm erce,in violation of16U.S.C.

j3372(d)(2);and

5

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 5 of 12
b. tofraudulentlyandknowinglyexportandsendfrom theUnitedStatesany

merchandise,article,andobjectcontrmytoanylaw andregulationofthe

United States,inviolation ofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section554.

3.

ObiectoftheConspiracv

Thepumoseandobjectsoftheconspiracywereforthedefendantandhiscoconspirators,knownandunknowntotheGovernment,tosmuggleCITESAppendix11motecteb

, speciesandotherwildlifeoutoftheUnitedStatesforfinancialgain.

M annerandM eansoftheConspiracv

Themnnnerandmeansbywhichtheconspiratorssoughttoâccomplishtheobjectsand

pup oseoftheconspiracyincluded,am ongothers,thefollowing:

4. CC-Iagreedtoallow K A YEUNG M AR VIN CHAN andCC-2tousehisCITES '

M asterFilepermittoexportreptilesinexchangeforapproximately$2, ,000.inU .S.currency for

eachexportand/orforguazanteedpuychasesfrom hisbusiness.

IfA YEITNG M ARVIN CH AN andCC-2 traveledtotheUnited Statestoattend

reptileshowsanydtom akepuzchasesofreptilesfortheirreptilebusinesses.

6. Priortotheanticipatedexportdatç,K A YEUNG M ARVIN CH AN contactedCC1 andprovided dçtuailsregarding hispurchaseplanseitherin advmwe ofarriving in theUnited

StatesorwhileintheUrlited States,toallow CC-Ithenecessarytim etocompletethegaudulent

exportpapem ork.

7 Afterpu'rchasingthereptilesintheUnitedStates, K A YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN

andCC-2sentm essagestoCC-Ilistingtheirrespectivepurchasesduringthatparticulartrip.CC1usedthatinformationtopreparefraudulentexportfonnsdeclaringthata1oftheUITES11reptiles

cnm efrom iliscaptive-bredstock.

6

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8. On severaloccasionsafterpurchasingreptilesin theUnited States,lfA YEUN G

M ARW N CHAN wouldarrangeforthedeliveryofhisreptilepurchasestoeithertoaFedExhub

from whereCC-Iwouldretrievethereptiles,ortoCC-1'swarehouse.Uponreceipt,CC-Iwould

preparethefraudulentexportdocumentsandthenwoulddeliverthereptilesandexportdocuments

toacustomsbrokerwho,intut'n,submittedthefraudulentpaperwork,includingUSFW SFot'm 3-

177andCITESForm 3-201A.totheU SFW S.

Afterpm chasing reptilesin the United States forhim selfand/orK A YEUNG

M ARVIN CHAN,CC-2wouldeitherarrangeforthereptilesto,beshippedtotheresidenceofan

unindictedco-conspiratorintheM inm iareawhowouldcareforthereptilesuntilCC-2anived, or

CC-2wouldpersonallyconveythereptilestotheM inmiama.

Upon aniving in the M iam iarea,.CC-2 transported the reptilesto the business

location ofDynasty Reptiles,personally repackaged thereptiles,obtained the fraudulentexport

documentsfrom CC-1,andthendeliveredthereptilesandexportdocumentstoaçustomsbroker

who,in turn,subm itted theâaudulentpapelw ork,including aUSFW S Form 3-177 and CITES

Form 3-201A,totieUSFWS.

OvertActs

Infurtheranceoftheconspiracy,andtoeffecttheobjectsandpurposethereof,therewere

com mittedand caused tobe committed by atleastoneoftheco-conspiratorsherein,within the

SouthernDistrictofFloridaandelsewhere,atleastoneofthefollowingovertacts,am ongothers:

1. OnoraboutAugust23,2018,IG YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN andCC-Icauseda

declarationforexportationofwildlife(USFWSForm 3-177)aldaccompanyingCITESpermits

(3-201A)tobefiledwithUSFW SandCBP,falselycertifyingthatthereptilescoveredbythe

k

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 7 of 12
permit(towit,approximatelytwoballpythons+ython?-cghl,ç),twentyargentinetegus(salvator

nfescens),andtwen'tycommontegus(salvatormerianaej)werebredandhatchedfrom parental

stockm aintainedatCC-1'sbusiness.

2. On or aboutSeptem ber 10,2019,K A YEIJNG M ARVIN CHAN and CC-I

causedadeclarationforexportationofwildlife(USFW SForm 3-177)andaccompanyingCITES

pennits(3-201A)tobefiledwithUSFW SandCBP,falselycertifyingthatthereptilescoveredby

thepermit(towit,approximatelytwobalpythonsLpythonregiusjandelevenargentinetegus

(salvatorrufescensj)werebredandhatchedfrom parentalstockmaintainedatCC-1'sbusiness.

3. On oraboutOctober29,2020,K A YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN andCC-Icaused

adeclarationforexportationofwildlifeGJSFWSForm 3-177)andaccompanyingCITESpermits

(3-201A)tobefiledwithUSFW SandCBP,falselycertifyingthatthereptilescoveredbythe

permit(towit,approximatelyfiveballpythons+ython7-cgà/l),fiveargentinetegus(salvator

ru#scens),andtencommontegus(salvatormerianael)werebredandhatchedfrom parentalstock

maintainedatCC-1'sbusiness.

4. On oraboutJuly 12,2021,K A YEUNG M ARVIN CH AN and CC-I caused a

declarationforexportationofwildlife(USFW SForm 3-177)andaccompanyingCITESpermits

(3-201A)tobefiledwithUSFW SandCBP,falselycertifyingthatthereptilescoveredbythe

permit(towit,approximatelyninecommontegus(salvatormerianael)werebredandhatched

from parentalstockm aintainedatCC-1'sbusiness.

5. On oraboutAugust10,2021,KA YEUNG M ARW N CHAN andCC-Icauseda

declarationforexportationofwildlife(USFW SFonn3-177)andaccompanyingCITESpennits

8

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 8 of 12
(3-201A)tobeEledwithUSFWSandCBP,falselycertifyingthatthereptilescoveredbythe

permit(towit,approximatelyfortytegus,eitherargentinetegusLsalvatorrufescens)orcommon

tegus(salvator?zc?-jgz?kccllwerebredandhatchedfrom parentalstockmaintainedatCC-1's

business.

A1linviolation ofTitle18,United StatesCode,Section 371.

COUNT 2

Lacey Act-FalseRecord

(16U.S.C.jj33724* (2)and3373(d)(3)(A)(i))

1. TheGeneralAllegationssectionofthisInform ation isre-allegedandincop orated

byreferenceherein,asthoughsetfofthinitsentirety.

OnoraboutAugust10,2021,inM iam i-DadeCounty,intheSouthernDistrictof

Florida,andelsewhere,thedefendant,

IQA YEUNG M ARVIN CHAN,

did knowingly makeandsubm it,anddidcausetobem adeandsubm itted,afalserecordforand

falseidentification ofany wildlife,msspecifiedbelow,inthatthedefendantcausedadeclaration

forexportationofwildlife(USFW SForm 3-177)andaccompanyingCITESpermits(3-201A)

listing CC-1'sbusinessasthe exporterand abusinesslocated in M ongkok,Kowloon,Hong

Kong,astheforeignimportertobefiledwithUSFW SandCBP,certifyingthatthereptilescovered

bythepermit(towit,approximatelyfortytegus,eitherArgentinetegus(salvatorrufescens)or

commontegus(salvatormerianaej)werebredandhatchedfrom parentalstockmaintainedatCC1'sbusiness,when intruth and in lkct,asthedefendantthen ltnew,certain ofsaid wildlifewas

notcaptive-bredatCC-I'sfacility,saidwildlifehavingbeenandintendedtobebothexportedand

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 9 of 12
transported in interstate and foreign conunerce,in violation of Title 16,United States Code,

Sections33724*(2)and3373(d)(3)(A)(i)andTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section2.

fi-m7IxTsAoxsTvwIseAoTxvzoApcxsszv

i .-....--

/ m -

T om asW atts-FitzGer ld

AssistantUnitedStatesAtlorney

TODD KIM

ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

EnvironmentandN aturalResourcesDivision

!

g '

. . ,. s ,

B numathiR n à jan

SeniorTrialAttorney

EnvironmentalCrim esSection

10

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 10 of 12
UN ITED STATES DISTRICT CO URT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

UNITED STATESOF AM ERICA

V.

KA YEUNG MARVIN CHAN,

/

Defendant.

CourtDivision(selectone)

Z Miami L KeyW est .L FTP

L FTL r W PB

1doherebycertifythat'.

1. Ihavecarçfully considered the allegationsoftheindictment,thenum bero,fdefendants,thenum berofprobable

witnessesandthelegalcomplexitiesoftheIndictm ent:nformationattachedhereto. -

k. Iam awarethattheinformationsupyliedonthisstatementwillberelieduponbytheJudgesofthisCoul'tinsetting

theircalendarsandschedulingcrimm altrialsunderthemandateoftheSpeedyTrialAct,Title28U.S.C.93161.

CASE NO.:

CERTIFICATEOFTRIALATTORNEY*

SupersedingCaseInformation:

New Defendants)(YesorNo)

NumberofNew De'fendants

TotalnumberofNew Counts

Interpreter:(YesorNo)Yes

Listlanguageand/ordialect:cantonese

Thiscasewilltake 0 daysforthepartiestotry.

5. Pleasecheck appropriatecategoryandtypeofoffenselistedbelow :

(checkonlyone) (Checkonlyone)

I E 0to 5days r petty

11 L 6to10days ElMinor

l1I L 11to20days n M isdemeanor

IV L 21to60days ' m y'elony

V L 61daysandover

6. HasthiscasebeenprevibuslyfiledinthisDistrictCourt?(YesorNo)No

lfyes,Judge ' CaseNo. .

7. Hasacomplaintbeenfiledinthismatter?(YesorNo)Yes

Ifyes,M agistrateCaseN o. 22-mJ'-02754-A0R .

DoesthiscaserelatetoapreviouslyfiledmatterinthisDistrictCourt?(YesorNo)Yes

Ifyes,Judge Bloom ' CaseNo.22-20025-CR-BB

9. Defendantts)infederalcustodyasof8/l9/2022

10. Defendantts)instatecustodyasof

1l. Rule20from the Districtof

12. Isthisapotentialdeathpenaltycase?(YesorNo)No

13. Doesthiscaseoriginatefrom amatterpendingintheNorthernRegionoftheU.S.Attorney'sOffice

priortoAugust8,2014(M ag.JudgeShaniekM aynard?(YesorNo)No

Doesthiscaseoriginatefrom amatterpendingintheCentralRegionoftheU.S.Attorney'sOffice

priortoOctober3,2019(M ag.JudgeJaredStrauss?(YesorNo)No

/t .',, ..,

..:.

By: .. *

om asW atts-FitzGerald

AssistantUnited StatesAttorney

FLA BarN o. 0273538

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 11 of 12
UNITED STATESDISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

PENALTY SHEET

Defendant'sNam e: KaYetm :M arvin Chan

CaseNo:

Countts)#:1

ConspiracvtoSmugcleW ildlife

Title18-UnitedStatesCode.Section371

*M ax.Term ofIm prisonm ent:5YearsIm prisonm ent

*MandatoryMin.Term ofImprisonment(ifapplicable):N/A

*M ax.Supervised Release:3Years

*M ax.Fine:Greaterof5250,000ortwicethepecuniarygain/loss

Cotmtts)#:2

M aldnaFalseRecords

Title16.UnitedStatesCode.Section33724*(2);3373(d)(3)(A)(i)

*Max.Term ofImprisonment:5YearsImyrisonment

*MandatoryM in.Term ofImprisonment(:fapplicable):N/A

*M ax.SupervisedRelease:3Years ''

*M ax.Fine:Greaterof$250,000ortwicethepecuniarygain/loss

*Refersonly topossibleterm ofincarceration,supervised releaseandfines. Itdoesnotinclude

restitution,specialassessm ents,paroleterm s,orforfeituresthatm ay beapplicable.

Case 1:22-cr-20460-CMA Document 11 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/28/2022 Page 12 of 12