Illegally mailed over 240 live tarantulas to U.S. last year.
This spider man is no superhero. Sven Koppler, 37, a German national, has signed a deal, agreeing to plead guilty to illegally smuggling live tarantulas into the United States. Koppler mailed more than 240 of the arachnids from Germany to Los Angeles last year, but after they were intercepted by Fish and Wildlife Service agents he was ensnared in a sting operation and busted for attempting to illegally transport dozens more spiders, including a protected Mexican species. Authorities say he made $300,000 selling spiders to people around the world. He faces 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
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