New Yorker pleads guilty to trafficking endangered lion and tiger

Malasukum, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday in Plano, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly Priest Johnson for the Eastern District of Texas, to a one count information charging him with wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act.    

In papers filed in federal court in April 2016, Malasukum admitted to purchasing a tiger skull from undercover agents who were working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Malasukum also admitted to purchasing lion skulls from an auction house in Texas through the undercover agents on another occasion.  The agents were acting as “straw buyers” for Malasukum. Malasukum, who knew his out-of-state purchases could draw attention from federal law enforcement, gave the undercover agents cash and told them which items to bid on and ultimately win. After the purchases, Malasukum shipped the tiger and lion skulls from Texas to his home in Woodside, New York. From New York, Malasukum shipped the skulls to Thailand for sale to a wholesale buyer. 

 “This guilty plea is another positive result from the continued partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department,” said acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Wood. “Together we will continue to investigate and prosecute those who engage in illegal trade in protected wildlife.”

“Reasonable laws are in place to protect endangered animals, and to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to see and enjoy wildlife as we do today,” said Acting United States Attorney Brit Featherston. “There are fewer than four thousand tigers remaining in the wild and they must be protected from harm...”