NEW YORK – A New York City antiques dealer has pleaded guilty to smuggling artifacts made from rhinoceros horns from the U.S.to China.
U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (buh-RAH'-ruh) says Qiang Wang, known as Jeffrey Wang, pleaded guilty to wildlife smuggling conspiracy Wednesday in Manhattan federal court. Bharara says Wang smuggled Asian artifacts made from rhino horns and ivory from New York to Hong Kong and China in violation of wildlife trafficking laws. Rhinos are an endangered species.
Wang was arrested in February. The 34-year-old faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced in October.
Bharara says Wang faked U.S. Customs documents on packages containing the artifacts.
An attorney for Wang did not respond to a request for comment.
The hottest stories ripped from the headlines, from crime to courts, legal and scandal.
