A judge ordered two Chinese nationals to pay US$5,500 each to the US Fish and Wildlife Service before returning to China within three days
Two flight attendants for a Chinese airline were fined and ordered to leave the United States within 72 hours on Monday for attempting to smuggle dozens of spotted and box turtles in carry-on bags from Los Angeles to China.
US District Judge S. James Otero ordered Chinese nationals Huaqian Qu, 41, and Renfeng Gao, 31, to pay US$5,500 each to the US Fish and Wildlife Service before returning to China within three days. They were also sentenced to three years of probation.
The two China Eastern Airlines attendants pleaded guilty last month to a federal conspiracy charge, which carries a possible penalty of up to five years behind bars, said the US Attorney’s Office.
