PHOENIX — A mother and son have been sentenced in court for their involvement in the illegal export and sale of exotic animals from Mexico to Arizona.
Raymond Rabago Montoya, 23, of Phoenix was sentenced earlier this month to 12 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act, a federal law protecting wildlife that have been illegally transported or sold.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Una madre y su hijo fueron sentenciados luego de que los investigadores encontraran un tigre, un caimán y varias tortugas en una casa del Valle
Montoya's mother, Griselda Montoya-Gastelum, was sentenced to 18 months for helping to coordinate the illegal importation of protected animals, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office of Arizona.
Court records show the son admitted to being involved in illegally importing tigers, panthers, monkeys, exotic parrots with a market value of at least $40,000.
"The animals were put in grave danger when taken from their natural environment only to be transported in cages, makeshift or otherwise, without the proper food or ventilation and held at locations without proper care," prosecutors wrote in a court filing.
In 2022, wildlife officials was contacted by someone who claimed to have purchased a parrot from Montoya and the bird later died.
In January 2023, Phoenix police searched the local residence of Carlos Castro and reported finding an alligator, tiger cub, 12 snapping turtles, six tortoises and a box of reptiles.
Police seized Castro's phone and found messages he exchanged with one of the defendants involving the sale of monkeys.
Castro offered $10,000 for two monkeys and one of the defendants said they each cost $6,000 because crossing the border was "expensive," court records show. Castro declined the deal.
“that is all i have for now i am planning on buying a tiger,” Castro reportedly wrote in a message to the defendant.
Castro was arrested and put on probation after he was caught trying to sell a tiger online.
At around this same time, investigators were noticing advertisements in Facebook groups for the sale of spider monkeys. An undercover agent made contact with Raymond Montoya and they discussed purchasing a monkey for $7,000.
The agent met up with the mother and son in Phoenix and purchased a monkey. Another monkey was sold to an undercover agent the following month, court records show.
In August 2023, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office reported finding a crate containing 25 parrots inside Raymond's vehicle. The defendants were indicted and arrested the following month.
"Dozens of animals have died due to Defendant’s actions and neglect," prosecutors wrote. "Defendant illegally imported wildlife into the United States without regard to the risks that it presented to both the animals and the general public."
