A grand jury in Laredo has indicted Alejandro Hernandez, a 31-year-old man from Houston, on charges related to trafficking sea turtle skin boots. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the indictment, which involves allegations of smuggling, selling, and mailing the illicit footwear. Hernández has been apprehended by law enforcement in Midland and is appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roland Griffin.
The charges assert that Hernandez operated an online store promoting the sale of custom boots made from various animal skins. He is accused of advertising them as handmade items from Guanajuato, Mexico. As per the indictment, in October 2024, he imported sea turtle skin boots from Mexico and sent them to a Houston customer.
If found guilty, Hernandez faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine that could reach $250,000. The Fish and Wildlife Service led the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver is handling the prosecution.
It’s worth noting that an indictment is merely a formal accusation of criminal wrongdoing, not proof. Under the law, a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.