Lauren Deloach, a 69-year-old resident of St. Helena, has been sentenced for trafficking in sperm whale parts in violation of federal wildlife protection laws. Deloach received a sentence of 30 days home confinement and was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine after pleading guilty to violations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act.
According to evidence presented in court, Deloach illegally imported, sold, and possessed sperm whale teeth and bones between September 2021 and September 2024. Authorities said Deloach knowingly broke the law by importing and selling these items, going so far as to mislabel shipments to avoid detection by law enforcement. Prior to entering his guilty plea, Deloach surrendered approximately 47 whale teeth and two whale ear bones; two teeth and one ear bone were provided as evidence in court.
The sperm whale is native to U.S. waters in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These animals can weigh up to 45 tons, reach lengths of 52 feet, and live as long as 60 years. The population suffered significant declines due to commercial whaling from the early 19th century until the late 1980s. Research indicates that sperm whales are highly social creatures that communicate over long distances using distinctive sonar clicks.
Federal prosecutors requested that any fine imposed be directed to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (also known as the Lacey Act Reward Fund), which supports efforts against wildlife trafficking. United States District Judge David C. Norton agreed with this recommendation: "Judge Norton also sentenced Deloach to 30 days home confinement and two years of probation."
The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston D. Holliday, Jr., together with Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorney Ryan C. Connors.
