Aussie Lizards: Big Fine

The Sun Herald

Saturday October 12, 1991

A MAN has been convicted in the US of trafficking in exotic Australian lizards.

Joseph Lewis, an executive of a cosmetic firm in Richmond, Virginia, was convicted of conspiracy to import shingleback skinks and bearded dragon lizards from Australia.

Allen Hundley, of the US Fish and Wildlife division of law enforcement, said yesterday: "It was a big business, well-organised."

Hundley said evidence before the court in Richmond showed Lewis had conspired with others to import three packages into the country from Australia. Those packages contained eight shingleback skinks and 10 bearded dragon lizards.

According to court documents, in the mid-1980s Lewis ran a business from the basement of his home called Universal Select Animals.

The company was "engaged in buying, selling and trading in exotic, rare and protected reptiles."

Lewis pleaded guilty and was fined the equivalent of $9,400, ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and given 30 days of home confinement for his crime.

Two Californian men have also pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case.