Man Pleads Guilty to Cat Smuggling

Asian Leopard Cats
Man Pleads Guilty to Cat Smuggling
The head of small cat organization could receive up to five years in prison
for smuggling Asian leopard cats.

The American head of a Europe-based small cat organization has pleaded guilty
to federal charges of illegally selling and transporting two endangered
Asian leopard cats to Miami.
At the time of his arrest, David G. Sparandara was director of the Czech
Republic-based organization European-American Consortium for Small Felines.
Authorities said Sparandara shipped one Asian leopard cat through Miami
International Airport in January 2005.
Another Asian leopard cat that he tried to ship through the Miami airport in
December 2005 was intercepted and submitted to federal authorities.
Investigators learned that proper Endangered Species Act permits were not in
order
for the transactions.
Paperwork showed that the first Asian leopard cat was being sold to an
importer for more than $4,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Sparandara could receive as many as five
years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release and an order
of restitution at his July 20 sentencing.