NJ man pleads guilty to smuggling box turtles from Oklahoma

Federal prosecutors say a New Jersey man has pleed guilty to smuggling more than 1,000 box turtles that were illegally collected in Oklahoma.

Court records show 26-year-old William T. Gangemi of Freehold, New Jersey, was accused of violating a federal law against sale or purchase of illegally collected wildlife with a market value over $350.

Gangemi was allegedly part of a syndicate of wildlife smugglers involved in purchase and transportation of three-toed and western box turtles from Oklahoma to New Jersey. collection of both s of turtles for commercial purposes is illegal in Oklahoma.

Prosecutors say Gangemi pleed guilty Wednesday and will be sentenced on Jan. 27. Records show Gangemi was sentenced to two years’ probation in June after pleing guilty to similar charges in South Carolina.