 and a jaguar cub (right) to federal agents (Picture: US Justice Department) A husband and wife in Texas were arrested after trying to sell exotic wild cats, including a jaguar cub, to undercover agents. Rafael Gutierrez-Galvan, 29, and his wife Deynira Garza, 28, were both charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Big Cat Public Safety Act for attempting to traffic exotic cats in August and September. On August 24, Gutierrez-Galvan first met with an undercover agent from the Department of Homeland Security in a parking lot of an Academy Sports and Outdoors store in McAllen, Texas. He sold what appeared to be a small, spotted kitten to the agent for $7,500. Experts identified the cat as a margay cub, a small cat native to South and Central America. Margay are not endangered or threatened, but are still considered an 'exotic species' by the US Department of Agriculture. Agents caught up with Gutierrez-Galvan again on Tuesday, September 26. This time, he brought what the agents clearly recognized as a young jaguar cub. According to the agents, Gutierrez-Galvan told them 'I'm just here to sell a cat.' At the same time, agents staking out the suspect's home saw his wife, Deynira Garza, carry a case full of money out before leaving in an SUV. Garza was pulled over by a police officer after driving through a red light, where she admitted she was carrying the money. After he was arrested, Gutierrez-Galvan told federal agents that he was self-employed and 'buys and sells animals' for a living. He admitted he was delivering a 'wild cat,' but claimed he thought the first animal was a 'Persian cat.' Garza also confirmed that her husband was a wildlife trafficker, and admitted she occasionally assisted him by handling animals and acting as a translator. Gutierrez-Galvan and Garza were both arraigned at the federal courthouse in McAllen on Wednesday, September 27. If convicted, they face up to five y){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
A husband and wife in Texas were arrested after trying to sell exotic wild cats, including a jaguar cub, to undercover agents.
Rafael Gutierrez-Galvan, 29, and his wife Deynira Garza, 28, were both charged with violating the Endangered Species Act and the Big Cat Public Safety Act for attempting to traffic exotic cats in August and September.
On August 24, Gutierrez-Galvan first met with an undercover agent from the Department of Homeland Security in a parking lot of an Academy Sports and Outdoors store in McAllen, Texas.
He sold what appeared to be a small, spotted kitten to the agent for $7,500. Experts identified the cat as a margay cub, a small cat native to South and Central America.