ST. CATHARINES, Ont. - An Ontario man has been handed a conditional sentence after he was caught trying to sneak almost 1,500 reptiles into Canada.
Andrew Fruck, 33, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, pleaded guilty in April after he drove to the border in September 2009 with close to 1,500 tortoises, turtles, boa constrictors and pythons hidden behind the side panels of his van.
The reptiles — which included several endangered species — were found by Canadian border guards who searched the vehicle at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge.
The Canada Border Services Agency and Environment Canada said in a release that Fruck must pay more than $5,700 in restitution for the safe care and return of the reptiles and serve six months of house arrest.
According to the release, most of the reptiles were taken back to Louisiana where they likely originated and were returned to the wild.
Fruck pleaded guilty on April 30 to one count of making false statements under the Customs Act and to 11 counts under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.
He was sentenced earlier this month in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Under his sentence, Fruck must abstain from possessing live animals and from importing or exporting any live animal. He's also subject to unannounced inspections of his residence to ensure compliance with court orders.
He was also fined $500 for the Customs Act charge.