In February 2015, June Christman strolled through the flea market with her father, Bruce Christman, when she noticed two stools made from elephant feet. The sight disturbed her. She inquired with her father, a wildlife biologist, if they were real. He thought they were. Days later, their image having left a deep impression on her, she insisted they go back to take a closer look at the stools, after which she felt certain that they were genuine. She asked her mother Michelle Christman, a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Biologist in Ecological Services, if it was illegal. She was not certain of the laws but they certainly ask and find out.
Christman initiated inquiries through the Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), who then opened a case to investigate the merchandise. OLE agents located the vendor and examined the merchandise, and found that June’s concern was valid. The agents seized the merchandise and educated both the vendor and the facilitator of the flea market on wildlife trafficking and the laws related to the sale of merchandise made from wildlife.
The case was closed in May of 2015 with no penalties or time served. Southwest Region Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Chavez stated that “Not every case is a big case. We are not looking to press federal charges for every case that comes through our office. In this instance we managed to educate a lot of people.”
In August 2015, a small luncheon was hosted for June where Chavez presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation, a Southwest Region OLE patch, and the Resident Agent in Charge Challenge Coin for the Arizona and New Mexico District.
