SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Five individuals pleaded guilty to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
According to court documents, for the five defendants, all Puerto Rico residents, admitted to unjustly enriching themselves through the trafficking, taking, trapping, sale, and barter of migratory birds. The defendants captured and possessed migratory birds; illegally held them in temporary housing; offered the birds for sale on private internet chat groups; sold the birds to local purchasers; negotiated the price of the birds, paid for, and received payments for the trafficking of migratory birds in Puerto Rico and elsewhere. The migratory birds illegally trafficked included:
Bahama Pintail ducks; Northern Pintail ducks; Black-bellied whistling ducks; Eastern spot-billed ducks; Blue-wing Teal; Canadian geese; Wood ducks; and White-crowned pigeons. In criminal case 25-504 (PAD), defendant Héctor Rivera González pleaded guilty on May 22, 2026, to a violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He will be sentenced on August 7, 2026, and faces up to two years in prison.
In criminal case 25-503 (ADC), the following defendants pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to violate the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Each defendant is pending sentencing up to 5 years in prison.
[1] Ricardo Morales-Colón: pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2026;
[2] Derline Cordero-Galloza: pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 29, 2026;
[3] Ezequiel Muñiz-Salas: pleaded guilty on March 5, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for June 17, 2026; and
[4] Edison Pérez-Collado: pleaded guilty on April 23, 2026, and his sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; in conjunction with the investigating agency, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe, Chief of the Financial Fraud and Public Corruption Section is prosecuting the case.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Puerto Rico — U.S. Department of Justice press release.