Phoenix resident Raymond Anthony Rabago Montoya, 23, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and fined $3,000 for illegally importing exotic wildlife from Mexico. His mother, Griselda Guadalupe Montoya-Gastelum, 50, from Sonora, Mexico, received an 18-month prison sentence with the same supervised release. They were involved in a scheme that included endangered species like tigers, panthers, monkeys, and exotic parrots, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which eventually led to a halt to their operations, began back in August 2022 after an individual reported suspicions about the legality of the exotic parrots they had purchased. This tip-off spiraled into a more extensive inquiry, unearthing reams of evidence, including the discovery of various protected animals and a tiger cub in the home of an associate during a January 2023 search. According to the United States Attorney Gary Restaino, "Once again we see Arizonans profiting from the concealment of contraband through the Nogales and Lukeville Ports of Entry," in a statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Social media platforms played a pivotal role with undercover federal agents observing spider monkey advertisements on Facebook, which led to the undercover purchase of two monkeys at $6,000 apiece. Despite their attempts to operate under the radar, Rabago Montoya was apprehended twice with endangered parrots concealed within his vehicle, many of which, disturbingly, were deceased. The pair were indicted on September 12, 2023, and arrests were swiftly conducted the following day.
Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, emphasized the harmful impacts of wildlife trafficking, noting that it is both illegal and immoral. He stated that trafficked animals endure severe suffering as they are smuggled across borders in inhumane conditions. The investigation involved collaboration among several federal and local law enforcement agencies, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stuart Zander and Lisa Jennis leading the prosecution.
