Commack Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Rare Insects: Feds

BROOKLYN, NY — A Commack man admitted Tuesday to running a smuggling operation where he imported and exported more than 17,000 dried exotic insects, including endangered butterflies and bees, according to documents provided by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Charles Limmer, 75, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods (i.e. butterflies) out of the United States, prosecutors said.

Limmer made 59 shipments worth approximately $216K between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the indictment.

He agreed to forfeit $30,215 and faces between 12 and 18 months in prison, prosecutors said. Limmer's sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4.

The insects smuggled by Limmer, documents show, include butterflies; moths; cicadas; bees; scorpions; and other insects.

"Mr. Limmer fully accepts responsibility for his actions regarding importing dried specimens without a commercial license after 2022," Renee Wong, his lawyer, told Patch. "He is a conservationist at his core, and he only imported insects from farms that assisted in the ongoing proliferation of species."

Limmer ran a business called the Limmer Business where he imported, exported, bought and sold wildlife, documents show. His business obtained a license to import and export wildlife from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (the "FWS"), officials said. The FWS suspended the Limmer Business's import/export license on or about Oct. 19, 2022, authorities said. Limmer continued to smuggle wildlife in and out of the country despite not having a valid license, prosecutors said.