Florida Fish and Wildlife pursues a group that sold poisonous snakes including cobras and vipers illegally

 January 16, 2023 7:54pm EST

BY Greg Wehner

                                          Following a multi-year investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, or FWC, charged eight individuals with felonies and misdemeanours for trafficking poisonous and illegal snakes.

After receiving reports and accusations regarding a Florida black market for the sale and acquisition of extremely deadly poisonous reptiles, the inquiry got under way in 2020.

The state agency claimed in a press release on Friday that the illegal purchase, sale, transportation, and enclosing of these snakes poses a serious risk to the general public, jeopardises the long-term survival of state wildlife populations, and undercuts reputable, legally operating captive wildlife dealers.

The other issue is that, given Florida's subtropical environment, the creatures might readily flourish and reproduce if they were to escape.

During the examination, 24 distinct snake species from seven different geographical areas were found, totaling roughly 200 snakes. Agents working undercover for the FWC either bought or sold the snakes.

The bushmaster, inland taipan, rhinoceros viper, African bush viper, Gaboon viper, green mamba, eyelash viper, spitting cobra, forest cobra, and saw-scaled vipers are a few of the species that are bought and traded.

According to Major Randy Bowlin of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement, "several of these snakes are among the most poisonous in the world." Florida's laws and regulations are in place to safeguard the public and avoid calamities.

The majority of unlawful activity was carried out on niche websites or private social media profiles. After agreements were made, meetings were scheduled in person to complete the transactions.

Wholesale traders who brought in huge shipments of non-native poisonous snakes from various nations across the world were among those engaged.

FWC agents collaborated with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to obtain search warrants for a number of the social media accounts.

Dr. Benjamin Abo, a main investigator and medical director, said, "The deeds of people like the ones accused today make our tasks at VENOM 1 and 2 just that much tougher." "After a terrible bite, we struggle every day to save life while reducing long-term problems. There are laws governing the care, crate-making, and shipping of these creatures for very good reasons."

Delvin Eugene Sasnett, 32, of Eagle Lake, Florida, was accused of having an alligator in his possession, but detectives claimed they had uncovered evidence to support charges against him for many major offences involving poisonous reptiles and other species. He was also accused of neglecting a child.

According to the press release, William Chase Agee, 32, of Holly Hill, Florida, is not authorised and has reportedly participated in several unlawful poisonous reptile sales and acquisitions. Investigators claimed that Agee, who is also a convicted felon, was aware of the laws governing the snakes.

Charges against Dylan Isaac Levin, 30, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, include selling a controlled narcotic, selling a poisonous reptile to an unlicensed person, and maintaining incorrect documents about deadly reptiles.

Charges against Edward Daniel Bays, 25, of Miami, Florida, include possession of an illegal species, release of non-native wildlife, transportation of an illegal species, transfer of an illegal species to or from an unlicensed individual, and dangerous wildlife transportation.

Jorege Javier Gonzalez, a 23-year-old Miami resident, was accused of trafficking Burmese pythons and other restricted species. FWC investigators have often found evidence of the unlawful sale and transportation of these invasive species.

According to the press release, Paul Edward Miller, 48, of Cape Coral, Florida, is a significant snake importer, a reputable wildlife distributor, and the proprietor of Calusa Animal Company. Miller was implicated in the fabrication of documents for the appropriate number of experience hours, according to investigators, in addition to several infractions including caging, labelling, and husbandry.

The FWC identified Joseph David Switalski, Jr., 37, of Plantation, Florida, as a seasoned reptile trader and the proprietor of JDS Holdings and Trading, LLC. He was reportedly involved in several unlawful sales and acquisitions of more than 60 snakes, the inquiry found.

According to the FWC, Timothy James Gould, 38, of Central City, Pennsylvania, is a well-known wildlife transporter who is not authorised to bring captive animals or poisonous reptiles into Florida. According to officials, Gould promotes his transportation services online for wildlife traders, and at the time of his arrest, he was in possession of 27 snakes without a licence.

Investigations Section Captain Van Barrow said, "During this investigation, officers saw and heard unsettling evidence of widespread illegal activity, not the least of which were individuals who indicated they were releasing or planned to release prohibited reptiles into nearby native habitat to establish a readily accessible wild breeding population.

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