BRITISH MAN INDICTED FOR IMPORTING IVORY AND OTHER ILLEGAL WILDLIFE PRODUCTS INTO DECATUR

BIRMINGHAM, AL - A British man was indicted today by a federal grand jury on charges related to the illegal importation of ivory and other wildlife products into the Northern District of Alabama, according U. S. Attorney Alice H. Martin.

The indictment follows the June 5, 2006, arrest of PAUL WILLIAM POWELL, 53, in Decatur, Alabama. Counts One and Two of the indictment charge POWELL with importing and facilitating the transportation of seven pieces of carved elephant ivory, two pieces of carved walrus ivory, and one carved item made from a sea turtle. The charges allege that the items were imported into the United States without being lawfully declared to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and in violation of the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, section 545. These charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Counts Three and Four of the indictment charge POWELL with making and procuring the making of false statements in order to illegally import the wildlife products into the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code section 542. Those charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation in this case also involved the execution of a search warrant at a storage facility that POWELL had rented in Decatur. Some of the wildlife products listed in the indictment were recovered at that facility during the search.

U.S. Attorney Martin said “Endangered species will be protected by aggressive law enforcement efforts in Northern Alabama. I commend the work of our federal partners, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Fish and Wildlife Service, and FBI, along with our local partner, the Decatur Police Department on this investigation.”

This case was investigated by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Decatur Police Department. Assistant united States Attorney Russell E. Penfield is prosecuting the case.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.