Pa. man charged with selling tiger skin

By Bob Stiles
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Saturday, July 21, 2007

A Greensburg man is accused of selling a tiger skin to an undercover agent — an offense similar to one that sent his son to prison in 2006.

Barry McMaster, of the Exotic and Unique Gifts Shop, was paid $8,500 by an undercover agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the skin in 2004, according to information filed in federal court in Pittsburgh.

He is charged with violating interstate commerce regulations, including offering an endangered species for sale and shipping an endangered species.

A person who identified himself as the owner of the Exotic and Unique shop on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg said McMaster was affiliated with that business, but declined further comment. He wouldn’t identify himself.

Efforts to speak with McMaster’s attorney, Gary Zimmerman, were unsuccessful.

McMaster’s son, Kevin, was sentenced last year to serve 25 months in prison for selling or offering to sell more than $200,000 worth of parts and hides of endangered species, according to federal authorities. Those sales were to take place through a Web shop and retail store, Exotic & Unique Gifts Shop, Port St. Lucie, Fla., they said.

The prosecution’s case against the elder McMaster includes recorded telephone conversations and photographs of a tiger skin rug, according to court documents.

Other items include a FedEx airbill and an Exotic and Unique catalog.

McMaster, who appeared for his arraignment this week in federal court, is free after posting $10,000 bond.

Bob Stiles can be reached at bstiles@tribweb.com or (724) 836-6622.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/news/ westmoreland/s_518368.html