Daly City, California — A California man is facing serious federal charges after authorities accused him of attempting to illegally export nearly 300 protected turtles out of the United States in what investigators describe as a major wildlife trafficking scheme.
Federal Charges Filed in Turtle Trafficking Case
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Donald Do of Daly City was arrested and charged with conspiracy and violations tied to the Lacey Act, a federal conservation law designed to protect wildlife from illegal trade and trafficking.
According to prosecutors, Do allegedly submitted false paperwork to obtain a federal export permit and then attempted to ship protected turtles to Taiwan.
Investigators claim the alleged operation took place between December 2022 and May 2024, during which Do and an accomplice allegedly tried to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles overseas.
Authorities Say Turtles Were Poached from the Wild
Federal officials allege the turtles involved in the scheme were illegally sourced from the wild in multiple states, including Florida.
“After obtaining the export permit, Do allegedly bought musk turtles poached from the wild in Florida and elsewhere, and tried to obtain more,” DOJ officials stated. “Do told sellers he was willing to take ‘wild caught’ and sent instructions to ship turtles to San Francisco.”
Authorities also allege that Do attempted to acquire more than 200 additional turtles from a Louisiana man identified as Albert Bazaar, who was separately arrested in Phoenix on related turtle trafficking charges.
According to investigators, Bazaar allegedly misled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service into issuing permits by falsely claiming that Do had personally bred and raised the turtles himself.
Investigators Claim Suspect Tried to Hide Involvement
The indictment further claims that after unsuccessful export attempts, Do allegedly tried to distance himself from the operation.
“After unsuccessfully exporting the turtles, Do allegedly tried to conceal his role by lying to his co-conspirator in California that he had sold the turtles to other domestic buyers,” officials said.
The charges stem from alleged violations of the Lacey Act, which makes it illegal to provide false information about wildlife involved in interstate or international trade, as well as transporting wildlife obtained in violation of state law.
Part of Larger Wildlife Crime Investigation
Authorities confirmed that the investigation was connected to Operation Southern Hot Herps, a coordinated federal and state effort targeting turtle poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking in the southeastern United States.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the operation was specifically designed to detect and stop poachers illegally capturing turtles and other reptiles from the wild.
The Department of Justice stated that Do has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is expected to appear in court on May 21.
If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each conspiracy and Lacey Act violation.
Protected Turtle Species at Center of Case
The loggerhead musk turtle became a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in November 2022.
The species is known for its unusually large head and strong jaw muscles, which allow it to crush hard-shelled prey like conch and whelks.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, adult loggerheads can weigh between 200 and 350 pounds, grow up to 3.5 feet long, and live for more than 70 years.
Although found worldwide, loggerheads are among the most common sea turtles nesting in U.S. waters and are considered an important part of marine ecosystems.
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