Snake in pants: US man charged with smuggling 3 reptiles in pants | US crime

a New York A city man faces up to 20 years in prison for allegedly trying to smuggle three large snakes in his pants across the U.S.-Canada border.

On July 15, 2018, Queens resident Calvin Bautista, 36, was charged with hiding three Burmese pythons on a bus entering the United States at the Port of Champlain, New York. Associated Press report.

Bautista was arraigned in a courtroom in Albany, New York, this week.

He faces federal smuggling charges because the importation of Burmese pythons is regulated by international treaties and federal law.

Bautista did not have a permit under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is required to bring pythons into the United States from other countries. Fort Worth Star Telegram report.

Bautista was released pending his trial. Department of Justice Said.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

The incident is being investigated by US Fish and wildlife Service and US Customs and Border Protection.

The Burmese python is one of the largest species of snake, growing up to 16 feet. The python is not considered endangered, but is considered a vulnerable species in Asia and an invasive species in Florida.