Artist pleads guilty to trafficking $26,000 worth of endangered sperm whale teeth from Ukraine

  • John Bell, of Connecticut, pleaded guilty to a count of wildlife trafficking
  • Bell admitted that in 2004, while in the Ukraine, he sold 34 teeth to a co-conspirator who lived in Massachusetts
  • Bell, who was an artist, carved some of the teeth he sold, but also sold fully intact teeth 
  • Between July 2005 and June 2006, Bell smuggled more than 49lbs of sperm whale teeth into the country 
  • Bell's co-conspirator was convicted in connection with the trafficking in 2010 and sentenced to 33 months in prison 

By Associated Press and Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A Connecticut man has pleaded guilty to smuggling more than $26,000 worth of endangered sperm whale teeth from Ukraine into the US

The US Department of Justice says John Bell, of Lakeville, who also goes by Jake, entered his plea in Boston on Wednesday to wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act. The law bans trade in illegally obtained wildlife, fish and plants.

As part of his plea, Bell admitted that in November 2004, while in the Ukraine, he sold 34 teeth to a co-conspirator who lived in Nantucket, Massachusetts, for $11,600. 

John Bell, of Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to a count of wildlife trafficking, admitting to smuggling more than 49lbs of sperm whale teeth into the US (stock image)

John Bell, of Connecticut, has pleaded guilty to a count of wildlife trafficking, admitting to smuggling more than 49lbs of sperm whale teeth into the US (stock image)

Bell shipped the teeth in multiple boxes from the Ukraine to an associate in Connecticut, from where his co-conspirator picked them up.

According to the indictment, Bell bought the teeth and smuggled them into the United States. Bell, who was an artist, carved some of the teeth he sold, but also sold fully intact teeth to customers.

According to court filings, between July 2005 and June 2006, Bell smuggled more than 49lbs of sperm whale teeth into the country, valued at more than $26,000. 

Also, between June 2007 and April 2008, Bell sold nine carved teeth to customers in the US, earning more than $20,000.

The teeth weigh about 2lbs, and Bell told a buyer they would cost about $310 per pound.

Documents show Bell listed the teeth as 'paintings' on receipts to hide their sales.

'Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that those who attempt to profit from the illegal trade of endangered species will face the consequences for their actions under law,' said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood. 

Sperm whales are an endangered species protected under the Lacey Act, which bans trade in illegally obtained wildlife

Sperm whales are an endangered species protected under the Lacey Act, which bans trade in illegally obtained wildlife

Bell's co-conspirator was convicted in connection with the trafficking in 2010 and sentenced to 33 months in prison. 

'Federal law provides great protection to the marine mammals that live in our waters,' said James Landon, director of NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement. 'OLE is dedicated to enforcing those laws and seeing that those who violate them are held accountable for their illegal actions.'

The Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act protect sperm whales and, among other things, prohibits their parts from being sold in interstate or foreign commerce or imported into the United States without a permit. 

The Lacey Act creates penalties for knowingly trafficking or importing wildlife and parts from wildlife like sperm whales, and United States customs laws prohibit importing merchandise like sperm whale parts knowingly in violation of the law or federal regulations.  

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