Luxury Handbags Designer Jailed for Smuggling Protected Reptile Skins
Nancy Teresa Gonzalez de Barberi, the founder of the luxury handbag company Gzuniga, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for her involvement in illegally importing merchandise made from protected wildlife from Colombia to the United States. Mauricio Giraldo, an associate of Gonzalez, also faced prison time in connection with the case.
The sentencing comes after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Gzuniga was producing handbags from the skins of protected caiman and python species, violating regulations set by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which both the United States and Colombia are signatories.
The company’s illegal activities involved bringing hundreds of designer purses, handbags, and totes into the United States by enlisting individuals to wear or carry the products while traveling on passenger airlines. Once in the country, the merchandise was delivered or shipped to the Gzuniga showroom in New York for display and sale.
Gonzalez, Giraldo, and another co-conspirator, John Camilo Aguilar Jaramillo, were Colombian citizens who were extradited to the United States to face charges. Jaramillo had previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim emphasized the importance of combatting illegal wildlife trafficking, stating that the United States is committed to protecting threatened and endangered species both domestically and internationally. The investigation and prosecution of this case involved collaboration with federal and international partners to ensure accountability for those involved in wildlife trafficking.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida stressed the need for strict adherence to laws protecting endangered species, emphasizing that economic factors cannot justify flouting regulations. Lapointe affirmed that the office would continue to require compliance with wildlife trafficking laws in cooperation with international partners.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) played a crucial role in the investigation, highlighting the importance of disrupting illegal wildlife trade networks. Assistant Director Edward Grace of the USFWS’s Office of Law Enforcement underscored the Service’s commitment to seeking justice for protected species exploited for profit.
An indictment charged Gzuniga, Gonzalez, Giraldo, and Jaramillo with conspiracy and smuggling for their involvement in importing designer handbags made from caiman and python skin from February 2016 to April 2019.
The sentencing of Gonzalez and Giraldo, along with ongoing efforts to combat wildlife trafficking, serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding regulations to protect endangered species. As the global community continues to address the challenges posed by illegal wildlife trade, collaboration among law enforcement agencies and international partners remains essential to safeguarding biodiversity and promoting sustainable practices.