BOSTON, MA—The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has charged Adam Bied, 39, of Reading, with serious violations concerning the illegal import and trade of endangered wildlife parts. Bied faces charges of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States and violating the Lacey Act by trafficking wildlife, acts that contravene both the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This case has shed light on a disturbing trade involving highly vulnerable species. From January 2018 to June 2021, Bied allegedly engaged in the purchase, sale, and exchange of wildlife parts from Cameroon and Indonesia, involving species that are both endangered and protected. Notably, he operated without the necessary permits from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and failed to declare these items upon their importation to the U.S.
In a major operation, over 100 wildlife parts were seized by authorities in July 2021 from Bied’s residence, storage unit, and vehicle. These included orangutan and tiger skulls, leopard and jaguar skins, as well as other rare items like a narwhal tusk and a polar bear skull. A civil forfeiture complaint has been filed to address the illegal acquisition of these items, which lacked proper documentation and were in violation of multiple federal statutes.
The charges against Bied could result in up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000 for each count. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has underscored the severity of these offenses, highlighting the significant threat they pose to global conservation efforts and the preservation of biodiversity.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with Ryan Noel, Special Agent in Charge of the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement, Northeast Region, have emphasized their commitment to combating environmental crimes and protecting endangered species from illegal exploitation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini and Carol E. Head, reflecting a strong collaborative effort among federal agencies to uphold environmental laws and regulations.