Houston Man Indicted for Trafficking Endangered Sea Turtle Boots

Alejandro Hernandez, a 31-year-old from Houston, has been indicted by a Laredo grand jury on charges of smuggling and selling boots made from endangered sea turtle skin. Prosecutors allege he operated an online store advertising custom boots made from various animal skins, claiming they were handmade in Guanajuato, Mexico. In October 2024, he allegedly arranged for sea turtle skin boots to be imported from Mexico and delivered to a Houston customer. Hernandez faces five counts, including conspiracy and illegal sale through the mail, and could receive up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The Fish and Wildlife Service led the investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Authorities emphasize that an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and Hernandez is presumed innocent unless convicted.