Bay Area man charged with trying to export hundreds of turtles illegally
A Bay Area man has been charged with attempting to illegally export hundreds of turtles to Taiwan. Donald Do allegedly conspired to deceive federal authorities regarding the origin of the turtles, which included endangered species. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and fines under the Lacey Act.
- ▪Donald Do is charged with conspiracy and violations of the Lacey Act.
- ▪He allegedly attempted to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles by falsely claiming he had hatched and raised them.
- ▪Do faces up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each charge if convicted.
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Metro Bay Area man charged with trying to export hundreds of turtles illegally By Ross O'Keefe Published May 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m. ET A Bay Area man tried to export hundreds of turtles from the United States to Taiwan before federal law enforcement arrested and charged him on Friday, foiling his too-slow plans. Daly City man Donald Do is charged with conspiracy and crimes related to a conservation law named the Lacey Act, Department of Justice officials said. Federal law requires anyone importing “injurious wildlife” to secure a permit under the Lacey Act — but prosecutors say Do’s alleged turtle-trafficking scheme was built on lies from the start. 3 Endangered baby loggerhead sea turtles.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at California Post.
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