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Hemet couple guilty of smuggling sea turtle eggs

Posted at 10:18 AM, Feb 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-20 13:19:01-05

A Southern California couple has pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 900 endangered sea turtle eggs into the United States from Mexico.

Hemet residents Jose and Olga Jimenez entered their pleas Friday in San Diego to federal smuggling and conspiracy charges.

Authorities say the couple tried to smuggle the eggs into the U.S. in 2014 in coolers under layers of ice, fish and shrimp.

The eggs are considered a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Asia, where they may sell for hundreds of dollars.

The couple also agreed to forfeit the eggs and pay up to $9,000 in restitution to the Mexican government.

They still could face up to 50 years in prison when they're sentenced in May.