L.A. Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Reptiles

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A Los Angeles man has pleaded guilty in court to smuggling goods from Australia. The contraband? Reptiles.

Acting on an anonymous tip in November, authorities investigated and found that Michael Plank, a reptile salesman from Lomita, was carrying 15 lizards (including two geckos) that were worth more than $9400.

Following a body search, Plank was arrested in November at LAX for attempting to smuggle lizards into the country from Sydney. He had strapped the lizards to his chest—a completely unoriginal move, if you ask us.

Plank initially pleaded not guilty to the charges; he will be sentenced for attempting to bring wildlife into the U.S. on October 18. (via The Sydney Morning Herald)