John Michael Kreatsoulas, a 36-year-old man from Alva, Florida, has admitted to smuggling thousands of turtles to Germany and Hong Kong through his business, Omni Reptiles Inc. The Department of Justice revealed that Kreatsoulas conducted illegal domestic and international wildlife trade from July 2015 to July 2021. He shipped various species of turtles, including protected ones like three-striped mud turtles and Florida mud turtles, claiming they were captive-bred when they were actually captured from the wild. Kreatsoulas falsified U.S Fish and Wildlife Service forms to conceal his crimes. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife and nine counts of falsifying records violating the Lacey Act. Kreatsoulas is set to be sentenced on May 17 for his illegal wildlife trafficking activities.