This Month in Plant Protection Today - A Florida Couple is Successfully Prosecuted for Lacey Act Violations

PPQ’s Lacey Act Declaration Data Helps Build the Case for Illegal Plywood [] [USDA logo] United States Department of Agriculture March 2024 Plant Protection Today [plywood]( Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the successful criminal prosecution and sentencing of a Florida couple and their employee in violation of the Lacey Act and customs law. Noel and Kelsy Hernandez Quintana pleaded guilty and were both sentenced to close to 5 years in prison for illegally importing and selling between $25 million and up to $65 million worth of plywood products. This might be considered one of the harshest judgements since the Act was amended. The Lacey Act Team of USDA’s Plant Protection and Quarantine program supported the investigation and prosecution. [Read more](. Check Out These Other Stories - [USDA and California Department of Food and Agriculture Join Forces to Safeguard Agriculture]( - [USDA Detector Dogs Combat the Fruit Fly Threat in California]( - [USDA Employees Share their Safeguarding Knowledge with African Nations]( - [PPQ Shares Methods to Aid Foreign Giant African Snail Eradication Program]( - [USDA Scientists Study Steam Heat as a Potential Treatment for Fresh Commodities]( - [PPQ Develops a Modeling Framework to Forecast Pest Risk]( About Plant Protection Today Every day, USDA's Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) employees collaborate with many partners, cooperators, and stakeholders to protect plant health. To stay on the leading edge, PPQ explores scientific frontiers, develops new plant protection methods, and makes critical advancements. These efforts safeguard our nation’s agricultural and natural resources while facilitating the safe global trade of agricultural products. Plant Protection Today highlights some of PPQ's most successful and impactful programs and activities. Please send your feedback and comments to: PPQ.Plant.Protection.Today@usda.gov --------------------------------------------------------------- [Bookmark and Share]( Questions about APHIS programs and services? [Contact Us]( STAY CONNECTED: [USDA blog]( [APHIS Facebook]( [APHIS Twitter]( [APHIS YouTube]( [Sign up for email updates]( [APHIS Flickr]( SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: [Manage Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [Help]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL} using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service · 4700 River Rd · Riverdale, MD 20737 [GovDelivery logo](