A Houston man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison after he admitted to illegally selling lemurs.
Justin Treadwell, 26, was indicted on animal smuggling charges in February. He was sentenced Thursday.
According to the Justice Department, Treadwell and another man, Angel Quinones, in 2023 was recorded speaking to a confidential source about buying and selling endangered animals.
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In March 2024, the men sold three ring-tailed lemurs to undercover agents for $6,000 in the parking lot of a Houston PetSmart.
Quinones and Treadwell were detained after the sale. During their interviews, Quinones and Treadwell admitted to selling lemurs and spider monkeys to buyers around the country. The men said they were operating without a license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and said they knew the sales were illegal, according to court documents.
Ring-tail lemurs are native to Madagascar and are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Federal law requires a license to buy and sell the lemurs and other primates.
The animals have for years been coveted as rare and unique pets in Texas and other places, despite warnings that they can be hostile and make poor pets.
Treadwell reached a plea agreement in May. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors agreed to drop charges related to spider monkey sales and to animal smuggling. Quinones, who was arrested and charged months before Treadwell, pleaded guilty in 2025.
Under the orginal indictment, Treadwell faced a possible sentence of up to 20 years on the smuggling charge and up to 5 years for each charge of selling wildlife.
Quinones is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14.
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This article originally published at Houston man sentenced to 6 months in prison for selling endangered lemurs.