A 36-year-old New York man is accused of stuffing three Burmese pythons down is pants in an attempt to smuggle the reptiles into the United States from Canada.
The U.S. Department of Justice, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced the charges against Calvin Bautista on Oct. 4. But the alleged offences date back to July 15, 2018.
“Bautista smuggled the snakes in his pants as he rode on a bus that crossed the U.S.-Canadian border,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Officials made the arrest of the Richmond Hill, NY man at the Champlain Port of Entry between Quebec and New York.
If convicted, Bautista faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Bautista was arraigned in an Albany federal court and released before his next court date.
Main photo: Brian Smith/USGS
