In 2012, Texas-based FWS special agents uncovered a substantial trafficking organization smuggling thousands of protected living rock cactus from the Big Bend region of West Texas. The cacti sold for as much as several thousand dollars apiece on the black market.
Cooperative investigative work led to the execution of six residential search warrants served mostly in remote areas of far Southwest Texas where the living rock cacti naturally occur. The living rock cacti were advertised through Internet sales and mostly consummated with end purchasers from Europe and Asia. Several parcels containing the live cacti were intercepted at international mail facilities and were found to be falsely labeled, which substantiated felony charges to the sellers.
“Individuals who deal in protected native plants are not only doing damage to the environment, but they are stealing from the American people," said Erik Breitzke, acting special agent in charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute these criminals to ensure the protection of these West Texas natural treasures."
The living rock cacti are afforded protection through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and listed as Appendix I protected plant species that prohibit foreign commerce. Categories of the species are listed as threatened with extinction and limits international movements to scientific research and zoological display.
Bock remains on bond pending formal sentencing. No sentencing date has been scheduled.
Five other individuals have been prosecuted and sentenced in relation to this scheme.
Thousands of live cacti seized by law enforcement during this investigation were cared for and donated to non-profit entities through assistance from the Sul Ross State University.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Miller, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
