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BRYAN SCHRODER

United States Attorney

STEVEN E. SKROCKI
Assistant U.S. Attorney
Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
222 West Seventh Avenue, #9, Room 253
Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7567
Phone: (907) 271-5071
Fax: (907) 271-1500
Email: steven.skrocki@usdoj.gov

Attorneys for Plaintiff

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ALASKA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) No.


)
Plaintiff, ) COUNTS 1 and 2:
) SMUGGLING GOODS FROM THE
vs. ) UNITED STATES
) Vio. of 18 U.S.C. § 554
JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS, )
) COUNTS 3, 4, 5:
Defendant. ) VIOLATION OF THE LACEY ACT
) Vio. of 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(a)(1) and
) 3373(d)(1)(A)
)
) COUNTS 6, 7, and 8:
) LACEY ACT FALSE LABELING
) Vio. of 16 U.S.C. §§ 3372(d)(1) and
) 3373(d)(3)(A)(i)
)
) COUNTS 9 and 10:
) SMUGGLING GOODS INTO THE
) UNITED STATES
) Vio. of 18 U.S.C. § 545
)

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INTRODUCTORY ALLEGATIONS

The Pacific Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) is listed on Appendix III of the

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

(CITES)

Under CITES Walrus ivory cannot be exported out of the United States nor

imported into the United States without an export or import permit.

INDICTMENT

The Grand Jury charges that:

COUNT 1

On or about October 20, 2014, within the District of Alaska and elsewhere, the

defendant JAMES TERRANCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE ARTS, did

fraudulently and knowingly export from the United States to Indonesia one (1) raw,

unworked walrus ivory tusk, (Odobenus rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed

species, contrary to CITES as prohibited by the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C.

1538(c)(1).

All of which is in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 554.

COUNT 2

On or about March 21, 2016, within the District of Alaska and elsewhere, the

defendant JAMES TERRANCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE ARTS did

fraudulently and knowingly export from the United States to Indonesia four (4) raw,

unworked walrus ivory tusks, (Odobenus rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed

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species, contrary to CITES as prohibited by the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C.

1538(c)(1).

All of which is in violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 554.

COUNT 3

On December 16, 2014 through December 23, 2014, within the District of Alaska

and elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRANCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE

PASSAGE ARTS did knowingly sell two (2) carved walrus ivory tusks, (Odobenus

rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed species that was transported unlawfully into the

United States from a foreign country, to wit, Indonesia as prohibited by the Endangered

Species Act, 16 U.S.C. Section 1538(c)(1), and 50 C.F.R. Section 23.13(f).

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. § § 3372(a)(1) and

3373(d)(1)(A).

COUNT 4

On February 11, 2015, through November 24, 2015, within the District of Alaska

and elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE

PASSAGE ARTS did knowingly sell, in interstate commerce, one (1) scrimshawed

walrus ivory tusk, (Odobenus rosmarus), as prohibited by the Marine Mammal Protection

Act, Title 16, U.S.C. §§ 1372(a)(4)(B), and 1375(b).

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. § § 3372(a)(1) and

3373(d)(1)(A).

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COUNT 5

On or about April 19, 2016 through May 1, 2016, within the District of Alaska and

elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE

ARTS did knowingly sell two (2) carved walrus ivory tusks, (Odobenus rosmarus), an

Appendix III CITES listed species and transported unlawfully into the United States from

a foreign country, to wit, Indonesia, as prohibited by the Endangered Species Act,

16 U.S.C. § 1538(c)(1), and 50 C.F.R.§ 23.13(f).

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. § § 3372(a)(1) and

3373(d)(1)(A).

COUNT 6

On December 16, 2014, within the District of Alaska and elsewhere, the defendant

JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE ARTS did knowingly make

or submit false records and accounts for the importation and transportation of one (1)

carved walrus ivory tusk, (Odobenus rosmarus) an Appendix III CITES listed species,

from Indonesia into the United States.

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. § § 3372(d)(1), and

3373(d)(3)(A)(i).

COUNT 7

On or about November 4, 2014 through February 11, 2015, within the District of

Alaska and elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE

PASSAGE ARTS did knowingly make or submit false records and accounts for the

importation, transportation and sale of carved walrus ivory tusks, (Odobenus rosmarus),
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an Appendix III CITES listed species, and other animal product carvings in the form of

merchandise, all of which JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS imported from Indonesia.

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. §§ 3372(d)(1) and

3373(d)(3)(A)(i).

COUNT 8

On or about March 21, 2016, within the District of Alaska and elsewhere, the

defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE ARTS did

knowingly make or submit a false record and account for the export and transportation in

foreign commerce, to wit, Indonesia, of four (4) raw, unworked walrus ivory tusks,

(Odobenus rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed species.

All of which is in violation of the Lacey Act, Title 16, U.S.C. § § 3372(d)(1), and

Section 3373(d)(3)(A)(i).

COUNT 9

On December 16, 2014 through December 23, 2014, within the District of

Alaska and elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE

PASSAGE ARTS did fraudulently and knowingly sell two (2) carved walrus ivory tusks,

(Odobenus rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed species as merchandise, after

importation from Indonesia, knowing the same to have been imported or brought into the

United States contrary to the provisions of CITES, as prohibited by the Endangered

Species Act, 16, U.S.C. § 1538(c)(1).

All of which is in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 545.

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COUNT 10

On or about April 19, 2016 through May 1, 2016, within the District of Alaska and

elsewhere, the defendant JAMES TERRENCE WILLIAMS d.b.a. INSIDE PASSAGE

ARTS did fraudulently or knowingly sell two (2) carved walrus ivory tusks, (Odobenus

rosmarus), an Appendix III CITES listed species, as merchandise after importation from

Indonesia, knowing the same to have been imported or brought into the United States

contrary to the provisions of CITES, as prohibited by the Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. § 1538(c)(1).

All of which is in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 545.

A TRUE BILL.

s/ Grand Jury Foreperson ______


GRAND JURY FOREPERSON

s/ Steven E. Skrocki
STEVEN E. SKROCKI
United States of America
Assistant U.S. Attorney

s/ E. Bryan Wilson for


BRYAN SCHRODER
United States of America
United States Attorney

DATE: 10/16/18

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