Case Details

Illegal wildlife trafficking - 98 snakes
Firestone, CO (US)

Incident Date: Tuesday, Jul 1, 2003
County: Weld
Local Map: available
Disposition: Not Charged

Persons of Interest:
» Brook Berntson
» Cindy Sue Jahn

Case ID: 1578
Classification: Unlawful Trade/Smuggling
Animal: sheep, reptile
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Federal wildlife officers seized 98 snakes, many of them venomous, from a home during an investigation into suspected illegal wildlife trafficking.

The snakes and at least three firearms were taken from the home of Brook Berntson and Cindy Sue Jahn, according to an affidavit filed in federal court and made public Tuesday.

Neither has been charged with violating wildlife laws. Berntson was arrested on a federal firearms charge because a 1998 conviction for felony criminal impersonation makes it illegal for him to have weapons, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Jahn said the couple had moved to Firestone, about 25 miles north of Denver, because they were told it had no ordinance barring possession of snakes.

``I guess we did something wrong by not getting a permit from the state,'' she told The Associated Press.

The investigation began in 2001 when undercover wildlife authorities attended reptile shows in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

A snake breeder and vendor in St. Clair Shores, Mich., told investigators posing as vendors that he planned to buy three snakes from a seller in Colorado, although it was illegal to sell the snakes there, the affidavit said.

Authorities later obtained a check from the vendor to Jahn for the snakes, the affidavit said.

Jahn said the snakes taken from their home were well cared-for.

``We love animals. We would have a zoo if we could,'' she said.

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References

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