A Weedsport company connected to a local man admitted last week to illegally transporting endangered cats.
On Sept. 13, Finger Lakes International Inc. pleaded guilty in the U.S. District court in Portland, Ore. to violating the Endangered Species Act.
The company admitted to purchasing and transporting two ocelots for commercial use as part of an agreement. The agreement also allowed similar federal charges against Weedsport resident Glenn Donnelly to be dropped.
Last year, Donnelly - the former owner of the Cayuga County Fairgrounds and co-founder of racing firm DIRT Motorsports - was indicted in connection with a nationwide ring selling the rare cats. The charges alleged that Donnelly knowingly purchased two ocelots in Oregon before transporting them to New York in April 2002, a federal crime.
The indictment also alleged that he constructed a fraudulent document stating the cats were donated to him, which would have been legal under federal law.
According to the plea agreement, Donnelly was acting on behalf of DIRT Motorsports, and the company provided at least part of the costs. As the successor company after DIRT was sold, Finger Lakes International agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor, which can carry a maximum fine of $200,000 and 18 months probation. All charges against Donnelly, who is chief executive officer of Finger Lakes International, are to be dropped.
According to court records, the penalty will likely be between $20,000 and $40,000. Sentencing is set for December 3.
Donnelly had a history of keeping exotic animals on his property. In 2004, a 22-year-old woman was mauled by a caged bear on his property.
Donnelly could not be located for comment.
Six parties have pleaded guilty in connection with the ocelot trafficking scheme, with fines and community service penalties totaling more than $100,000, according to Fish & Wildlife spokesperson Joan Jewett. Finger Lakes International's plea was the final case in an investigation known as “Operation Cat Tale.”
The ocelot is an endangered, mid-sized cat found in Central and South America. In the United States, as few as 80 to 100 remain in the wild, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of those inhabit a wildlife refuge in Texas.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311, ext 282
The company admitted to purchasing and transporting two ocelots for commercial use as part of an agreement. The agreement also allowed similar federal charges against Weedsport resident Glenn Donnelly to be dropped.
Last year, Donnelly - the former owner of the Cayuga County Fairgrounds and co-founder of racing firm DIRT Motorsports - was indicted in connection with a nationwide ring selling the rare cats. The charges alleged that Donnelly knowingly purchased two ocelots in Oregon before transporting them to New York in April 2002, a federal crime.
The indictment also alleged that he constructed a fraudulent document stating the cats were donated to him, which would have been legal under federal law.
According to the plea agreement, Donnelly was acting on behalf of DIRT Motorsports, and the company provided at least part of the costs. As the successor company after DIRT was sold, Finger Lakes International agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor, which can carry a maximum fine of $200,000 and 18 months probation. All charges against Donnelly, who is chief executive officer of Finger Lakes International, are to be dropped.
According to court records, the penalty will likely be between $20,000 and $40,000. Sentencing is set for December 3.
Donnelly had a history of keeping exotic animals on his property. In 2004, a 22-year-old woman was mauled by a caged bear on his property.
Donnelly could not be located for comment.
Six parties have pleaded guilty in connection with the ocelot trafficking scheme, with fines and community service penalties totaling more than $100,000, according to Fish & Wildlife spokesperson Joan Jewett. Finger Lakes International's plea was the final case in an investigation known as “Operation Cat Tale.”
The ocelot is an endangered, mid-sized cat found in Central and South America. In the United States, as few as 80 to 100 remain in the wild, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of those inhabit a wildlife refuge in Texas.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311, ext 282
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DD wrote on Sep 20, 2007 7:02 PM: