The senior auction official at Beverly Hills Gallery admitted to conspiring to smuggle wildlife products made from rhinoceros horn, elephant ivory and coral.
The products had a value of about $1 million, according to officials.
Joseph Chait faces up to five years in prison for conspiring to smuggle wildlife products and up to five years in prison for violating the Lacey Act.
Category: U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice Cases
Defendants Who Allegedly Tried to Benefit from Programs that Help Minority Businesses Indicted
A federal grand jury indicted David Pfeiffer, 64, of Killbuck, NY, and Thomas Colton, 53, of Salamanca, NY, for illegally getting construction projects earmarked to help minority businesses.
The two were charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud. Pfeiffer was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution.
Both men are each facing up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
New York Man Sentenced to 16 Years for Trying to Buy the Poison Ricin to Use as a Lethal Weapon
A federal judge sentenced Cheng Le, 22, of Manhattan, New York to 16 years in prison for trying to buy the poison ricin to use as a lethal weapon, according to federal officials.
Sexual Predator Found Guilty of Traveling to Cambodia to Have Sex With Young Girls, Facing 130 Years in Prison
A Bay Area man was found guilty Monday of traveling to Cambodia to have illicit sexual conduct with young girls, according to officials
Ronald Gerard Boyajian, 55, who resided in Menlo Park and previously spent time on the Palos Verdes peninsula, was found guilty of three child exploitation crimes.
After a six-week trial in federal court, the jury found Boyajian guilty of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in foreign places, and committing these offenses while being required to register as a sex offender.
Detective Who asked Informant to Sell Drugs for Him is Facing Up to 20 Years in Prison
Former detective is facing up to 20 years in prison after he admitted to asking an informant to sell drugs for him, according to officials.
Matthew L. Dailey, age 45, of Howard, Ohio, plead guilty in federal court to extortion under color of official right.
Union Treasurer Charged with Allegedly Taking Kickbacks from Public Works Workers’ Wages
The business manager and secretary-treasurer of Local 201 of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union AFL-CIO was charged with taking kickbacks from public works employees at the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, officials announced today.
High Court Declines Apple’s Petition, Lower Court Ruling Stands, Apple Must Pay $400 Million in eBook Conspiracy Case
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a petition by Apple, let stand a lower court’s decision, resulting in the software giant having to pay $400 million because it substantially raised ebook prices, the Justice Department announced today.
Apple orchestrated a price-fixing conspiracy with five major ebook publishers, officials said.
Just Saying: Department of Justice Investigations, the “White Race” Myth and the Roman Empire
At the Democratic debate on CNN tonight, presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said that if he is elected, he will make sure that the Department of Justice investigates the deaths of people under police arrest or custody.
Woman Who Allegedly Impersonated FBI Agent to Dupe Elderly Woman In Connection with Lottery Scam Indicted
A federal grand jury indicted a woman for impersonating an FBI agent in connection with an international lottery fraud scheme based in Jamaica, according to officials.
Vania Lee Allen, 30, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and falsely impersonating an employee of the United States, one count of wire fraud and one count of falsely impersonating an employee of the United States.
Pimp Sentenced to 30 Years for Sex Trafficking; He Admitted to Raping and Beating Some Prostitutes
Convicted pimp Corderro Cody was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for running a sex trafficking operation where he referred to his prostitution business as the “program” and advertised the women on Backpage.com, according to officials.
Cody, 28, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, plead guilty on Oct. 30, officials said.
14 More Defendants Charged In Connection with the 2014 Standoff in Nevada Involving the Bundys
Federal prosecutors charged 14 more defendants in connection with the armed assault against law enforcement that occurred in Bunkerville, Nevada on April 12, 2014, federal officials announced Thursday.
Man Admits Staging Online Attacks Against His Former Employer’s Computers
An Oceanside man plead guilty to launching repeated online attacks against a computer system operated by his former employer, a Rancho Dominguez-based manufacturer of precision laser and mechanical drilling equipment.
Conrad Pearson, 64, plead Wednesday to one count of unauthorized damage to a protected computer.