Farmingdale Man Sentenced For Trying To Ship 10 Iguanas To Asia

FARMINGDALE, NJ — A Farmingdale man admitted he tried to illegally ship 10 iguanas to Hong Kong and falsely labeled the international shipment as "toys," said Acting U.S Attorney Rachael Honig on Tuesday.

Jason Ksepka, 44, was sentenced to three years of probation, with six months of house arrest. As part of his plea agreement, he also has to pay a $1,000 fine to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Ksepka pleaded guilty last September to one count of violating the Lacey Act by falsely labeling an international shipment of wildlife.

Federal prosecutors say on Nov. 7, 2017, he shipped the package via U.S. Priority Mail Express from the U.S. Post Office in Lambertville in Hunterdon County.

The package contained 10 live rhinoceros iguanas and was destined for Hong Kong.

The next day, Nov. 8, U.S. Fish and Wildlife mail inspectors intercepted the package at the mail facility at JFK airport and found the iguanas inside. All 10 iguanas were alive when they were found. Federal prosecutors said they weren't sure how big the package or box that was carrying them was.

Ksepka falsely described the contents of the package as “toys” and the sender as “Luke Jacobs” on a U.S. Postal Service International Shipping Label and Customs Form.

According to Honig, Ksepka was paid $500 by someone to take care of the shipment. That same person had paid Ksepka $500 one year before to ship approximately 10 additional rhinoceros iguanas to Hong Kong. That person was not named by U.S. attorneys.

Rhinoceros iguanas are very popular in the illegal pet trade, as it is legal to breed them in captivity. Those found in the wild are listed as an endangered species.

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