American Woman Convicted Of Smuggling Monkey Under Her Blouse

[sriracha john]

Woman, Mom Convicted Of Smuggling Monkey Into US

Washington Woman Who Hid Monkey Under Her Blouse And Her Mom Convicted Of Smuggling

SPOKANE, Washington (AP / 2008-12-08) A Spokane woman and her mother have been convicted in federal court on charges of sneaking a rhesus monkey into the United States from Thailand.

Gypsy Lawson, 29, hid the sedated young rhesus macaque under her blouse, pretending to be pregnant when she successfully passed through U.S. Customs in Los Angeles after a trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

Her mother, Fran Ogren, 55, of Northport, Wash., also went on the trip in November 2007.

The two women were found guilty Monday by a 12-member jury on separate charges of conspiracy and smuggling goods into the United States. Sentencing is set for March 3.

The monkey is now at a primate rescue facility in Oregon.

================================================================

Background information:

March 8, 2008

The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington, USA)

Gypsy Lawson and her dog Albert

Three charged with smuggling rhesus monkey

A second exotic monkey has been seized in Spokane, and this one may have been smuggled into the United States under a pregnant-looking woman’s blouse, authorities said Friday.

Three people were indicted in that federal wildlife smuggling case on Tuesday, five days after another monkey was captured after escaping its new home and biting three people on the South Hill.

Federal authorities confirmed Friday they are attempting to determine the origin of the first runaway monkey, a java macaque owned by Amy LeAnn Hensley, who’s awaiting sentencing in a diploma-mill conspiracy case. Federal laws may have been violated, depending on where her monkey came from and how long she had it.

In the second, unrelated case, Gypsy Lawson, 27, her boyfriend, James Edward Pratt, 33, both of Spokane, and her mother, Fran Ogren, 55, of Northport, Wash., are charged in a federal indictment returned Tuesday.

The three, scheduled to voluntarily appear in U.S. District Court on March 20, are charged with smuggling a young rhesus macaque monkey into the United States, and possession and transportation of prohibited wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act, U.S. Attorney Jim McDevitt said Friday.

Accompanying court documents suggest the rhesus monkey may have come from Thailand. It may have been smuggled under the clothing of a woman who appeared pregnant, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

The infant monkey was taken from Lawson when federal agents searched her home on Jan. 11, Lawson said during an interview Friday on her front porch.

“He was my baby and completely non-aggressive,’’ said Lawson, who named the monkey “Apoo,” which she says means “grandfather.”

“He liked to cuddle and sleep with Albert,” her 3-year-old Jack Russell-poodle mix, Lawson said. “They bonded immediately.”

When federal agents entered her home with a search warrant, “they couldn’t even find the monkey," Lawson said. “I had to show them – he was sleeping with my dog in the crate.”

Lawson, who has lived in Spokane since graduating from Springdale High School, said she and her mother traveled to Thailand last fall, but Pratt didn’t make the trip.

“I was already in love with monkeys, but we went and studied elephants and monkeys in Thailand in October," Lawson said. She denied the federal charges accusing her of smuggling the monkey when she returned to the United States.

[Boater]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

[Geekfreaklover]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

It was carried inside the jumper - padded to look like they were pregnant.

I guess if you are female and american, and supposedly pregnant, you don't get the full body check.

[kingwillly]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

I thought the same thing, but then read that she was pretending to be pregnant....

but it cannot have been a comfortable flight....

[zzdocxx]

You mean for her or the monkey?

[Boater]

It was carried inside the jumper - padded to look like they were pregnant.

I guess if you are female and american, and supposedly pregnant, you don't get the full body check.

even more worrying, especially now they have women sucide bombers.........

[madjbs]

You don't get body checked unless the metal detector goes off, are monkeys made of metal?

Bombs on the other are made from bits of metal, hence the metal detectors usually go off or the dogs smell the explosives.

Edited December 9, 2008 by madjbs

[haybilly]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

The **aggressive obscenity removed**claims to 'love ' monkeys--not the actions of someone with the monkey's best interests at heart--taking a young animal away from it's roots and giving it sedatives--f...wit, I hope she gets a stiff sentence.

[Geekfreaklover]

You don't get body checked unless the metal detector goes off, are monkeys made of metal?

Bombs on the other are made from bits of metal, hence the metal detectors usually go off or the dogs smell the explosives.

No monkeys are not made of metal, but chemical liquids can be used, hence the recent restrictions of carrying liquids on board.

[kingwillly]

You mean for her or the monkey?

both.

[madjbs]

You don't get body checked unless the metal detector goes off, are monkeys made of metal?

Bombs on the other are made from bits of metal, hence the metal detectors usually go off or the dogs smell the explosives.

No monkeys are not made of metal, but chemical liquids can be used, hence the recent restrictions of carrying liquids on board.

All they do is ask if you have any liquids, anyone could hide a bottle under their shirt, as you could a monkey apparently.

[kingwillly]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

The***claims to 'love ' monkeys--not the actions of someone with the monkey's best interests at heart--taking a young animal away from it's roots and giving it sedatives--f...wit, I hope she gets a stiff sentence.

exaclty, i agree.

[Groongthep]

You don't get body checked unless the metal detector goes off, are monkeys made of metal?

Bombs on the other are made from bits of metal, hence the metal detectors usually go off or the dogs smell the explosives.

Oh Yeah? Here's the Monkey in question at the BIB's "confession news clip"

--photo courtesy Channel 5

Monkey_with_IED.bmp

Edited December 9, 2008 by Groongthep

[nonthaburial]

Can you imagine the bedlam if the sedative had worn off in flight. Not funny

[sriracha john]

The Spokesman-Review

2 convicted on monkey smuggling-related charges

A 29-year-old Spokane woman and her mother were convicted today by a U.S. District Court jury of federal charges related to smuggling a monkey into the United States.

Gypsy Lawson hid the young rhesus macaque monkey under her blouse, pretending to be pregnant when she successfully passed through U.S. Customs after a trip to Bangkok, Thailand.

She didn’t run afoul of the law until she took the young monkey she named Apoo to a Spokane shopping mall the day after Christmas last year. Her mother, Fran Ogren, 55, of Northport, Wash., also went on the trip in November 2007.

The two women were found guilty by a 12-member jury on separate charges of conspiracy and smuggling goods into the United States.

The women traveled to Thailand last year after establishing e-mail contact with a man named Boris. After going to several villages, the women gave the young monkey sleeping pills to sedate him before boarding planes for the United States.

During the trip home, Ogren sent an e-mail to “NE Washington Witches and Pagans” at a Yahoo account and asked “for last-minute energy” to help them safely smuggle the monkey into the United States. The request worked and the women got past U.S. Customs officials in Los Angeles.

The monkey caper ended the day after Christmas last year when Pratt and Lawson visited the Fashion Bug store in north Spokane and told a clerk how the monkey was smuggled into the United States. That clerk called federal agents, who opened the investigation.

The jury got the case late Friday after a four-day trial. The panel resumed deliberations this morning and reached a verdict about 10 a.m.

Lawson’s boyfriend, James Edward Pratt, testified as a prosecution witness during the trial. Pratt, 34, also was indicted in the scheme and faced felony charges. But last July he struck a plea bargain with federal prosecutors and agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and testify as a government witness.

Besides Pratt’s testimony, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Van Marter introduced journals, e-mails and photos taken by federal agents during a search of Ogren’s home. The evidence was introduced in an attempt to confirm the monkey-smuggling conspiracy.

The monkey was seized by federal agents and transported in a specialized vehicle with a quarantine compartment to a Center for Disease Control facility in California. After being quarantined for several weeks, the monkey did not test positive for any infectious diseases, other than being a carrier for the Herpes B virus.

The monkey is now at a primate rescue facility in Oregon where it will remain, said Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Rice.

Lawson and Ogren will remain free on their own recognizance until sentencing on March 3.

U.S. Attorney Jim McDevitt said the case highlights the partnerships between federal prosecutors, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Royal Thai Police.

“These defendants purposely undertook a course of action which could well have endangered many citizens, as well as the life of the animal in question,” McDevitt said.

Paul Chang, Pacific Northwest supervisor with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said the “callousness and intent these people showed in carrying out their plan was egregious and placed at risk not only wildlife but potentially the health of other passengers on the plane and in their community.”

“These animals are known carriers of viruses and parasites that can be transmitted to humans, although this particular animal tested negative,” Chang said.

- The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington, USA) / 2008-12-09

[sriracha john]

The **aggressive obscenity removed**claims to 'love ' monkeys--not the actions of someone with the monkey's best interests at heart--taking a young animal away from it's roots and giving it sedatives--f...wit, I hope she gets a stiff sentence.

You'll very likely get your wish... these are federal felony-level convictions...

The two women were found guilty by a 12-member jury on separate charges of conspiracy and smuggling goods into the United States.

An additional kicker with federal convictions... no parole or "accrued good time" with prison sentencing. It's a day of incarceration for a day of prison sentence.

[dingdongrb]

That just goes to say that you should never taking your monkey shopping with you...

[ukrules]

how the hel_l did they get pass the airport security with a monkey !!....

oh sorry, they flew from Bangkok!

on a serious note, it could have been a bomb she was carrying and not a monkey,

Monkeys don't contain metal parts....normally.

[Jingthing]

The monkey caper ended the day after Christmas last year when Pratt and Lawson visited the Fashion Bug store in north Spokane and told a clerk how the monkey was smuggled into the United States. That clerk called federal agents, who opened the investigation.

It seems to me the US authorities are embarrassed that this crazy crazy monkey lovin' lady got through their elaborate homeland security theater operations. And now she must pay. It was outrageous what she did, but ask yourself, would you have snitched on her? Be careful of speaking to clerks at the Fashion Bug! I mean its a monkey, not a bomb, not cocaine.

Edited December 9, 2008 by Jingthing

[Geekfreaklover]

These women should serve a term in the Monkey House (Thai slang for jail)

Ok, I'll get me coat.

[MKAsok]

The judge should also give her an extra six months for having a stupid name.

[MKAsok]

Gypsy Lawson and her dog Albert

Isn't that your dog Jingthing? She's nicked Jingthing's dog!

[Cuban]

A new sign for airport security notice boards?

[Jingthing]

Isn't that your dog Jingthing? She's nicked Jingthing's dog!

Not my pooch, but you can tell Albert the dog is very distressed. Will probably end up being murdered at the dog shelter. Thank you fashion bug prat!

Edited December 9, 2008 by Jingthing

[Familyonthemove]

I think I saw her in Central Chidlom today ....... at least there was something inside a woman's blouse that was jiggling around .... may have been a monkey?

[QED]

I've heard of women smuggling peanuts under their blouses, but this is taking the p1ss!

[kingwillly]

Gypsy Lawson and her dog Albert

Isn't that your dog Jingthing? She's nicked Jingthing's dog!

just why is the dog in this photo anyway?

[Familyonthemove]

Gypsy Lawson and her dog Albert

Isn't that your dog Jingthing? She's nicked Jingthing's dog!

just why is the dog in this photo anyway?

..... to make her look like a caring animal lover and impress the court ...... m'lud.

Although that dog looks a bit pensive?

[Geekfreaklover]

Gypsy Lawson and her dog Albert

Isn't that your dog Jingthing? She's nicked Jingthing's dog!

just why is the dog in this photo anyway?

The monkey was unvailable due to a conflict of legal interests.

[dingdongrb]

Hey come'on give the lady a break.... I'd risk a left nad to be able to smuggle one of these 'Party' monkeys home, wouldn't you?