California Man Arrested in Turtle Export Scheme

Federal authorities say a California man tried to move nearly 300 wild turtles overseas by disguising them as captive-bred animals.

Investigators arrested Donald Do on wildlife-trafficking charges after alleging that he and an unidentified accomplice sought to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan between December 2022 and May 2024. According to authorities, the accomplice secured a US Fish and Wildlife Service export license by falsely claiming the turtles had been bred in captivity. Reports indicate that claim opened the door for shipments that otherwise would have faced far greater scrutiny.

Authorities say the case turns on a simple allegation with major consequences: wild turtles entered the export pipeline under paperwork that described them as captive-bred.

Prosecutors allege Do then bought turtles poached from the wild in Florida and other locations and directed that the animals be shipped to San Francisco. That accusation places the case at the intersection of wildlife crime, interstate transport, and international trade. It also highlights how official permits can become tools for trafficking when applicants submit false information.

The charges point to a broader pressure on species that traffickers can collect, move, and sell with relative speed. Loggerhead musk turtles may not command the public attention of larger endangered animals, but small reptiles remain vulnerable when demand meets weak oversight and complex supply chains. Sources suggest investigators focused on both the origin of the turtles and the paperwork used to move them through the system.

The next steps will unfold in federal court, where prosecutors must prove that the export effort relied on deception and illegally sourced wildlife. The case matters beyond one defendant because it tests how aggressively authorities can police the paperwork, transport routes, and cross-border networks that keep wildlife trafficking alive.