The New York Times
June 22, 2000, B-6
Eight at Riverkeeper Resign Over Kennedy's Hiring of a Rare-Egg SmugglerAt least eight members of the board of Riverkeeper, an environmental group known for its work on Hudson River and New York City watershed issues, have quit in protest over a difference with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the group's lead lawyer.
Robert Boyle, who was Riverkeeper's president until he resigned yesterday, said the dispute arose over a man Mr. Kennedy had hired late last year to help the organization monitor the city's compliance with environmental laws in the New York City watershed.
Mr. Boyle said the man, William Wegner, pleaded guilty in March 1995 to illegally smuggling rare bird eggs into the United States from Australia and was also convicted of tax evasion that year.
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Department Of Justice Press Release
TUESDAY APRIL 2, 1996
FINAL DEFENDANT IN COCKATOO-EGG SMUGGLING RING SENTENCED TO JAIL
SUCCESSFUL NATIONWIDE PROSECUTION COMPLETEThe species involved in this case included the Rose-Breasted Cockatoo, the Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo, the Slender-Billed Cockatoo, the White-Tailed Black Cockatoo and the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo. All cockatoos are protected under the international Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (called "CITES") which lists species whose existence is threatened by commercial trade. Australian federal law prohibits the export of cockatoos for commercial sale and some of the smuggled species are specially protected due to dwindling wild populations. These birds sold to U.S. collectors for prices ranging from $1,000 to $13,000 per bird, depending on the species.
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The fifteen individuals convicted during this investigation received a total of 186 months incarceration, 162 months probation. The leader of the conspiracy, William Wegner, 41, of La Jolla, California, is presently serving a 5-year sentence of imprisonment and has been ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
I'm sure glad you're on my side! (you are, aren'tchew?)(paranoid grin)
Officer! Officer!! In order to make an omlet, one must first... Oh, NEVER MIND!!!