Courts / Limerick / Report
Rathkeale man willing to surrender over rhino horn trafficking
Summary
John Slattery, a 30‑year‑old Limerick man who has changed his name to John Flynn, is currently in custody awaiting extradition to the United States for alleged wildlife trafficking. He is accused of three offences involving the purchase and sale of endangered black rhino horn. US authorities claim that Slattery and two others bought horns for $18,000 in Austin, Texas, and later sold them for $50,000 in New York. They also allege that between April and November 2010 Slattery bought two more horns for $10,000 and that in early 2011 he and co‑accused sold six horns for $260,000 at an auction in Macon, Missouri. Slattery's counsel, Mark Lynam, said the client has agreed to extradition but that the Covid‑19 crisis prevents immediate surrender.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Rathkeale man willing to surrender over rhino horn trafficking. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 2010 Other
- November 2010 Other
- May 22 Hearing Or Sentence
- Friday, April 3 Other
- 2020-04-01 Publication
Why: The men were initially unable to buy the horns because they were not local residents so they enlisted the help of a Texas man – a "straw buyer" – to complete the purchase, according to US authorities. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Outcome: Both of Mr Slattery's co-accused have already been sentenced in the US and it was "virtually certain" that Mr Slattery was facing a one-year sentence in America, the court heard. He said the plea bargain process itself took several months and Mr Slattery could spend several months in a US detention centre where conditions have been described as "tough".
Places mentioned
Topics
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