Jeremy Stone and Sister in jail

I was debating on buying one of his snakes a few months back he lives not to far from me, I read about some white boa on his website. Don't really know what to say. Crazy if it is true though.

Brother, sister allegedly smuggled rare boa constrictor into US

Here is the link to the article I will post the story below.
http://www.ksl.com/?sid=28293702&nid...cid=featured-2


SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah brother and sister face criminal charges for allegedly smuggling a rare boa constrictor into the United States to breed and sell the offspring for tens of thousands of dollars.
Jeremy Stone, 39, became aware of a white boa at the Niteroi Zoo near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that had been caught in the wild, according to a federal indictment.
Stone, owner Jeremy Stone Reptiles in Lindon, sent thousands of dollars to the zoo administrator between 2007 and 2009 as payment for the snake, prosecutors allege.
He sent or had others send emails to the administrator discussing how he could get the boa out of Brazil without export permits. The emails included photos demonstrating how the administrator should pack the snake in his sister's luggage, according to the indictment.
In January 2009, Stone and Keri Ann Stone, 34, of Midvale, traveled to Brazil to meet with the zoo administrator.
According to the indictment, a few days later the Stones attempted to leave Brazil on a cruise ship back to the United States but were denied permission to board because Kari Ann Stone appeared to be in the late months of pregnancy.
Airport security temporarily detained them after finding that she was wearing a hollow, false pregnancy belly and bra. The indictment alleges they were testing airport security.
They also attempted to board a flight to the United States. Airport security temporarily detained them after finding that she was wearing a hollow, false pregnancy belly and bra. The indictment alleges they were testing airport security.
The Stones ultimately moved the white boa from Brazil to Guyana, where a veterinarian created a fake certificate of origin showing the snake was caught in Guyana, according to the indictment.
Jeremy Stone sent the white boa and other snakes to the Unites States, declaring on a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service form that they were caught in Guyana and valued at $220, the indictment says.
The snakes were cleared for entry in Miami based on false information on the form on Jan. 29, 2009, and transported to Stone Reptiles in Lindon, according to the indictment.
The indictment alleges Jeremy Stone bred the white boa with other boa constrictors and sold the offspring for tens of thousands of dollars to buyers in the United States, Canada and Italy, among other places.
Jeremy Stone and Keri Ann Stone are charged in a four-count indictment with conspiracy to unlawfully import the snake into the United States; unlawfully importing the snake into the country; transporting the snake knowing it was imported contrary to law; and making and submitting false records for wildlife imported into the United States.
The maximum penalty for the conspiracy count is five years in prison. The potential penalty for importing merchandise contrary to law is 20 years, and submitting false information on a Fish and Wildlife form carries a penalty of five years in prison.

That's crazy...

Why not just get proper permits? Really stupid if this is true, and the snake will probably get euthanized into the bargain.

Yeah... All that trouble and now charges / prison time.. I'd get permits. Maybe said snake was illegal to get permits on(species is protected) or it could be illegal to get permits for an animal from Brazil, maybe.

There is another article on the forums here about that from a few months ago in the quarantine room - http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...nstrictors-com

I guess my main question is, if he knew it was illegal, why is he posting You-Tube videos about it? It seems like that would be an extraordinarily foolish thing to do. It just doesn't make sense.

quite a crazy story, and the penalty appears really over the top.


if he really blabbered about it on youtube, then he clearly did not expect that the laws would actually be enforced. also he acted quite stupidly. the way they did it allows no room to later claim that it was an error and/or that they didnt know that its illegal.

still, i think the punishment is over the top, 5 years in prison is extreme. if i would be the judge and wanted to make an example and choose a stiff punishment, i would force the guy to auction off the reptile collection and take the money, use it to pay off legal costs and stuff and have the rest donated for environmental protection. then, probation for some years, and no reptile keeping during that time. but 5 years in prison can really destroy a persons life. and there seem to be 3 charges, one would bring 5 years, the second up to 20 years, and the third one 5 years.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I guess my main question is, if he knew it was illegal, why is he posting You-Tube videos about it?

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Most criminals get caught because they can't keep their mouths shut.

Didn't realize their was an thread about it inn quarantine, it was just recently that I saw it on my local news website. Pretty crazy though I can't imagine loosing 5 or more years of my life for that.

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

. if i would be the judge and wanted to make an example and choose a stiff punishment, i would force the guy to auction off the reptile collection and take the money, use it to pay off legal costs and stuff and have the rest donated for environmental protection. then, probation for some years, and no reptile keeping during that time.

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You would advocate for the guy losing his livelihood along with the livelihoods of his family and his employees? THAT seems extreme to me. This is a business that many other people rely upon to make their living at, not just Jeremy's personal hobby.

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

still, i think the punishment is over the top, 5 years in prison is extreme. if i would be the judge and wanted to make an example and choose a stiff punishment, i would force the guy to auction off the reptile collection and take the money, use it to pay off legal costs and stuff and have the rest donated for environmental protection. then, probation for some years, and no reptile keeping during that time. but 5 years in prison can really destroy a persons life. and there seem to be 3 charges, one would bring 5 years, the second up to 20 years, and the third one 5 years.

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So you think he should face a more harsh punishment then many drug dealers and drug smugglers get? Why? Because he tried to use an animal to reproduce its kind. Its not like he smuggled in panda meat for burgers.

Those punishments listed are the max allowed for that crime. It is not guaranteed, and not the norm to get the max.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

You would advocate for the guy losing his livelihood along with the livelihoods of his family and his employees? THAT seems extreme to me. This is a business that many other people rely upon to make their living at, not just Jeremy's personal hobby.

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oh, i didnt know its a business with several employees. i nthat case, it would be better if he merely lost any and all ownership of the business and is barred from being involved with the reptile industry for a few years.

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Originally Posted by KMG

So you think he should face a more harsh punishment then many drug dealers and drug smugglers get? Why? Because he tried to use an animal to reproduce its kind. Its not like he smuggled in panda meat for burgers.

Those punishments listed are the max allowed for that crime. It is not guaranteed, and not the norm to get the max.

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nah, drug dealers and smugglers go to prison. but in this case, what i said is, that it would be enough to put him on probation and keep him out of the reptile industry and out of reptile keeping for a few years, instead of putting him into prison for a few years. i dont see how this is harsher than what a drug dealer gets, the equivalent would be: taking away the drugs and the drug money and barring the person from involvement in the drug trade for a few years. which doesnt make sense because dealing drugs is illegal anyway, but you get the idea.

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

nah, drug dealers and smugglers go to prison. but in this case, what i said is, that it would be enough to put him on probation and keep him out of the reptile industry and out of reptile keeping for a few years, instead of putting him into prison for a few years. i dont see how this is harsher than what a drug dealer gets, the equivalent would be: taking away the drugs and the drug money and barring the person from involvement in the drug trade for a few years. which doesnt make sense because dealing drugs is illegal anyway, but you get the idea.

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Now days even drug dealers can get probation without serving real time. The court systems are so over crowded the district attorneys plea bad guys out to probation all the time because the jails and prisons are full.

I think loosing the animal and a fine would be all that's needed. There is no reason to ban a person from working in a industry they have otherwise been a productive citizen in.

Jeremy knew it was illegal, Brazil wouldn't allow the permits. He thought he could lie and find a way around it. He got caught. He will get time probably 3-5 with parole after 2.5

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Originally Posted by Pythonfriend

nah, drug dealers and smugglers go to prison. but in this case, what i said is, that it would be enough to put him on probation and keep him out of the reptile industry and out of reptile keeping for a few years, instead of putting him into prison for a few years. i dont see how this is harsher than what a drug dealer gets, the equivalent would be: taking away the drugs and the drug money and barring the person from involvement in the drug trade for a few years. which doesnt make sense because dealing drugs is illegal anyway, but you get the idea.

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I can't speak for any other states, but thanks to a certain assembly bill, that's pretty much the punishment drug dealers in this state get. I dealt with a drug dealer next door for a year, complete with police raids, and the worst they got was a night in the county jail. Then they skipped court (were already on probation for possession, identity theft, and more) and last I checked had a warrant for their arrest. Good luck finding them. But since our prisons are over crowded, the state government decided it was better to release those criminals (and worse). That pretty much allows them to continue with their illicit activities unhindered.

Interesting - Brazil is demanding extradition so they can prosecute, plus the snake and all of his offspring back. I wonder if all those people who paid big bucks for the babies will have to give them up, or if the progeny will quietly disappear...

I'm not sure what to say. Smuggling is smuggling, and that's illegal, but does that throw out the possibilities of lucy boa constrictors now? Does that also mean that they aren't a pure line, as the original male (being from Brazil) was probably a BCC, which he stated was a BCI? Is he the only one in possession of this line?

On a side note, Ace Ventura WNC nostalgia anyone? (what with the white bat being smuggled and whatnot)

I'm intrigued. So what is so special about this snake that would make someone risk their life and fortune?

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Originally Posted by KMG

There is no reason to ban a person from working in a industry they have otherwise been a productive citizen in.

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Yes, other than illegally acquiring a snake that he brought to the country by very dishonest means, and making hundreds of thousands of dollars off of likely, for the most part, law abiding citizens from offspring of the snake he acquired illegally....yes, so other than just that, he has been a productive citizen...:rolleyes:

That's if the story is as reported of course...

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Originally Posted by RobNJ

Yes, other than illegally acquiring a snake that he brought to the country by very dishonest means, and making hundreds of thousands of dollars off of likely, for the most part, law abiding citizens from offspring of the snake he acquired illegally....yes, so other than just that, he has been a productive citizen...:rolleyes:

That's if the story is as reported of course...

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I didn't say it was right. If he did it then there should be consequences. I just don't think years in prison is the answer.

He got a snake, bred it, and sold its offspring(allegedly). I dont think this is a bigger issue than drug smugglers bringing in their products and killing people with poison. It was not a dangerous animal and from what we know he has not harmed anybody. I just personally know how turds keep getting low to no jail time for major crimes against others so I dont think this is anywhere close to that and he should not serve major time.

Again, if he broke the law he should pay. I just want it to be fair.

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Originally Posted by Wizard

I'm intrigued. So what is so special about this snake that would make someone risk their life and fortune?

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well, he could use this snake to produce a line of all white boas which could possibly make him a millionaire. I guess he thought the risk was worth it.

Here's a screen shot from the Princess Diamond page at BoaConstrictor.com. (I have a feeling that this page won't remain online long.)

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/...psdaee9332.png

...and here's a video, for however long that lasts.

http://youtu.be/VnofvOEwyFw

Followed that link and found another video where he is saying that after three years of breeding he was going to retire the princess diamond founder male. Because he 'didn't want to kill him' which makes absolutely no sense to me. I can certainly see giving it a year or two off, but retirement and never breeding it again? Sounds like a weird statement to make to me. Is this a normal procedure for boa breeders? Breed them for three years and then never breed them again?

Here is the video, he explains it at the end of the vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hy6xpaIc90

Haven't bred boas yet, but I believe I remember reading somewhere that breeding shortens their lifespan. I thought it was just females it did that to though.

You would advocate for the guy losing his livelihood along with the livelihoods of his family and his employees? THAT seems extreme to me. This is a business that many other people rely upon to make their living at, not just Jeremy's personal hobby



Really. So you believe that if a businessman does something illegal that the business shouldn't suffer? Sorry mate but committing a crime is still a crime, and if he hasn't taken the necessary steps to protect his business and employees then it sucks for all them. Having known Jeremy for many years it doesn't surprise me. And he definitely tried to defraud not only the Brazilians but also the Americans. He should have thought this one through a lot better. Testing and trying out ways to smuggle this animal shows intent enough to get him 5-10 years federal pen

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Originally Posted by KMG

I didn't say it was right. If he did it then there should be consequences. I just don't think years in prison is the answer.

He got a snake, bred it, and sold its offspring(allegedly). I dont think this is a bigger issue than drug smugglers bringing in their products and killing people with poison. It was not a dangerous animal and from what we know he has not harmed anybody. I just personally know how turds keep getting low to no jail time for major crimes against others so I dont think this is anywhere close to that and he should not serve major time.

Again, if he broke the law he should pay. I just want it to be fair.

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(Allegedly) . that is not an allegation. It has happened I have seen the offspring and know many were sold.
How do you compare drug smuggling to animal smuggling?
The low to no jail time normally only happens if they make a deal. Rat or snitch on bigger fish... And our prison system contradicts your statement. Over 40% of prisoners are serving time for this drug dealing, smuggling, or drug related offenses.

His crimes are great. His crime isn't selling drugs. It is defrauding the USA government the Brazilian government. We have many laws about this sort of thing.

The court will decide his punishments.

Its unfortunate that his crimes now will reflect on our hobby/industry

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Originally Posted by Rob_D

Really. So you believe that if a businessman does something illegal that the business shouldn't suffer? Sorry mate but committing a crime is still a crime, and if he hasn't taken the necessary steps to protect his business and employees then it sucks for all them. Having known Jeremy for many years it doesn't surprise me. And he definitely tried to defraud not only the Brazilians but also the Americans. He should have thought this one through a lot better. Testing and trying out ways to smuggle this animal shows intent enough to get him 5-10 years federal pen

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Well my former CEO is in jail right now, I'm glad you weren't the judge or I'd be out of a job along with thousands of my co-workers. If you think the employees should suffer for their bosses crimes you're nuts.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

Well my former CEO is in jail right now, I'm glad you weren't the judge or I'd be out of a job along with thousands of my co-workers. If you think the employees should suffer for their bosses crimes you're nuts.

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Whether or not his business goes under likely will depend on how it's organized. A corporation or LLC can bring on a new CEO, members, shareholders, etc. and continue to operate. If this guy was running as a sole proprietor, which I suspect is the case given his public filings with the state of Utah, then the business is going under - which he should have considered before smuggling the snake.

I'm a business owner in a very tightly regulated industry, and while I don't agree with most of the laws and regulations I won't put my freedom or my family's financial security on the line by violating them.

I am saddened by the very negative allegations and wish his family all the best. This is terrible news for the community and hopefully there will not be an overreaction until a court ruling has been made and both sides are able to present their case.

Sent from a happy snake owner.

Look at all these people blowing the whistle of the system like it's there to work for them. Keep clinging to that notion. A lot of bus drivers in here. I needed a good laugh. ;)

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Originally Posted by Rob_D

(Allegedly) . that is not an allegation. It has happened I have seen the offspring and know many were sold.
How do you compare drug smuggling to animal smuggling?
The low to no jail time normally only happens if they make a deal. Rat or snitch on bigger fish... And our prison system contradicts your statement. Over 40% of prisoners are serving time for this drug dealing, smuggling, or drug related offenses.

His crimes are great. His crime isn't selling drugs. It is defrauding the USA government the Brazilian government. We have many laws about this sort of thing.

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He is innocent until proven guilty in court. No matter what you see online that appears to be evidence it does not make him automatically guilty. This is America. You also really don't know the means in which he got this snake into the states. Maybe he found a way that he is not linked to. Without being able to prove that he was directly involved it will be hard to get a conviction on all charges because he will probably claim he was a victim of the person who sold him the snake who is now no where to be found. Have just one person on a jury that has been a victim of a scam and there goes your case.

I see your point that he might have defrauded the US and Brazil. But drug dealers defraud the US everyday. Have you ever heard of a drug dealer paying taxes? I bet most drug dealers make much more than most snake breeders yet they don't pay taxes. How many million dollar dope deals happen each day with no taxes ever paid. I think that's a bigger issue than a snake without proper paper work. Do we know if he paid the import tax on the snake and only used fake paperwork to get the snake in the US? If he declared it as a snake and paid the tax the only issue is the point of origin and fake documents. I just don't see this as the big crime against America as you seem to believe it is. But maybe I don't know all the facts, do you?

Sure the times he was stopped with his wife wearing a fake belly looks bad but are you sure it will be allowed in to the court. If he has a good lawyer he should go to work immediately trying to get it thrown out as evidence. We cant say for sure what they were going to do because we just don't know.

The prisons do not contradict my statement. Yes America has a huge drug problem and many people go to prison for drug charges. Just because you say 40% are there for drugs does not mean anything. How many of those 40% are serving long sentences for drugs on a first offense, second or even third offence? That was my point not the amount of people in prison for drugs but instead the amount of time the stay.

I come into contact with people like this past weeks winner. 28 year old with 34 arrest for dope and guess what I find him doing again, dealing dope. How many chances do people need? Why should police continually arrest the same people over and over putting their lives on the line each time for the same work they have already done before?

In the lines you quoted from me I said I didn't say drug dealers, I said turds committing major crimes against others get low to no jail time. I do think drugs are a major problem and many times get short sentences but was thinking more of major crimes like robbery, rape, and murder when I wrote that. I think anybody who murdered somebody should not be out of prison while they are still young yet I run across guys that are out of prison with not just one but a few murder charges in their criminal history. I once had a man fight me over drugs that I later found out was a prison gang hitman. He had three convictions for murder and one of those were from in prison. How many people had he killed that we don't know about? Would he have killed me if I lost the fight? Why is this person out of prison? Should he be? I don't think so.

I see it on a daily basis. Young guys out on a robbery charge that did less than a year, sometimes just a couple months. This is not because they flipped or worked as a confidential informant its just what is happening. I think less than a year for a robbery is low but you may not. At one point down here we had a judge giving drug charges a sentence of drug rehab and/or drug education classes. Sounds pretty good right? No jail, just a program or class. Im even good with this is certain cases. However he was giving this same sentences to the drug dealers and even had one drug dealer stand up in court and say he didn't use drugs and only sold them but the judge told him the sentence stood. That not right? That doesnt fix anything?

If you think this guy should be thrown under the prison, that's fine. Maybe he should and if I had all the evidence in front of me I might agree. However just from what limited information I know of his crime I don't see any reason why this could not be settled with fines and fees. Im sure the fines are rather large and will do the US much more good than paying to house him in a nice federal prison.

Plenty of people have gotten off of charges that appeared to be a slam dunk in America. You never know what twist a case might take and what the actual facts are until after the trial. I say the things I do having a different mind set than many because of my personal experience with criminals. It may not be the norm and Im only sharing my opinion. I just wanted to give you a better idea of where Im coming from.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

Followed that link and found another video where he is saying that after three years of breeding he was going to retire the princess diamond founder male. Because he 'didn't want to kill him' which makes absolutely no sense to me. I can certainly see giving it a year or two off, but retirement and never breeding it again? Sounds like a weird statement to make to me. Is this a normal procedure for boa breeders? Breed them for three years and then never breed them again?

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Sounds to me like he's just trying to keep its rarity so he can make some serious dough off this project.