A South Carolina man was punished for trafficking sperm whale parts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a news release.

From September 2021 to September 2024, 69-year-old St. Helena resident Lauren DeLoach violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Lacey Act, according to the release.

DeLoach illegally imported, sold and possessed sperm whale teeth and bones despite knowing it was a crime, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. He would falsely label shipments with these products to avoid detection from law enforcement, according to the release.

U.S. District Judge David Norton sentenced DeLoach to 30 days of home confinement and a $15,000 fine to be paid to the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund , the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. DeLoach was also senten

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