The Forest Grove man indicted last week for selling parts of endangered animals illegally smuggled from Asia pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday on one count of negligently selling endangered wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act.
Gary Holstrom, 72, the owner of EsotericStuff.com, was indicted for illegally selling eight primate skulls, including two from endangered orangutans, and several other animal parts between 2011 and 2014 for more than $9,000.
Holstrom will likely avoid any time locked up after becoming an informant for the feds, helping the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service bust two Malaysian businessmen—Eoin Ling Churn Yeng, 35, and Galvin Yeo Siang Ann, 33, both Malaysian citizens—who had sold the endangered animal parts to him. His suppliers were each sentenced to six months in federal prison, $12,500 fines, community service and a year of supervised release.
We broke the news in this week's issue that Holstrom was the original target of "Operation Pongo" and flipped, becoming an informant, after his house was raided by the FWS last summer. Here's some of what we reported this week:
Why didn't Holstrom's crimes get the same pomp the two Malaysians' did? Probably because he helped the feds bust Yeo and Ling.
It turns out the endangered and protected animal parts the two men were convicted of smuggling into the country had been purchased by Holstrom, so he could sell them at a markup at his own online-based antiques and artifacts store, esotericstuff.com, starting at the latest in 2008.
The FWS didn't ever mention that Holstrom, in his early 70s, was the original target of "Operation Pongo" but turned informant, according to records obtained by the Mercury and a source with knowledge of the investigation. After the feds raided his house last June, Holstrom agreed to cooperate with the FWS to bust his longtime suppliers for a reduced punishment.
Holstrom identified the Malaysian men, let an undercover agent pose as him to communicate with the two via email, and then lured Yeo and Ling to Oregon, using the promise of a party, so the feds could finally bust them in person.
According to the government's sentencing memo (below), Holstrom should have gotten between six and 12 months in prison, but they are only seeking probation and fines because Holstrom became an informant and is old...
The forgoing stipulated Guideline calculation yields an advisory sentencing range of 6-12 months' imprisonment. Pursuant to the parties' plea agreement, however, and in light of the defendants' otherwise exemplary life, cooperation with the investigation, advanced age, health limitations, and agreement to join in the recommendation, the government recommends that defendant be sentenced to five years' probation and payment of a $25,000 fine, payable to the Lacey Act Reward Account. Defendant poses a decidedly low risk of recidivism and has manifested complete remorse for his offense. Such a probationary sentence and fine are sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to accomplish the statutorily mandated objectives of sentencing.
Holstrom's sentencing is scheduled for October 14.