Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Endangered Sperm Whale Parts

Lauren H. DeLoach, a 69-year-old man from South Carolina, pleaded guilty to charges of illegally importing and selling sperm whale teeth and bones, violating the Lacey Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. DeLoach admitted to orchestrating a scheme from September 2021 to September 2024, during which he imported at least 30 shipments from countries such as Australia, Latvia, Norway, and Ukraine, and sold over 85 items on eBay worth more than $18,000. To evade customs detection, he labeled the packages as containing 'plastic.' Federal authorities seized an additional $20,000 worth of whale parts from his home during a raid. DeLoach faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of $250,000 for the felony charge under the Lacey Act, along with potential penalties under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The case was part of a broader federal initiative known as 'Operation Raw Deal' aimed at combating wildlife trafficking.