Two Minnesota women have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle restricted animal parts into the United States from Laos.
The U.S. attorney’s office says Tia Yang of Lake Elmo and Pa Lor of Oakdale entered their pleas Thursday and Friday, respectively, before U.S. District Judge Joan Eriksen.
Yang and Lor had a booth at the International Market Place in St. Paul, where prosecutors say they intended to sell the parts. The parts included pieces of elephant, leopard, mongoose and monkey and other species protected by international treaties. The defendants did not have the required permits.
A sentencing date has not been set. The maximum penalties are five years in prison.
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