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• Gypsy Lawson and her mother, Fran Ogren, were convicted on charges of smuggling and conspiracy for sneaking a rhesus monkey into the United States. On a return trip to Los Angeles from Bangkok, Thailand, Lawson hid the sedated animal under her shirt and acted as though she were pregnant.Washington Post: Woman, mom convicted of smuggling... (December 8, 2008) Lawson's scheme was successful and the monkey lived at her home for nearly two months before Department of Fish and Wildlife officials obtained a search warrant and found the monkey in January of 2008.Spokesman Review: Three charged with smuggling... (March 8, 2008)

• Fast Facts

  1. Animals such as the Thai rhesus monkey can carry viruses and parasites that can be transmitted to humansSpokesman Review: 2 convicted on monkey smuggling... (December 9, 2008)
  2. Lawson's age at time of conviction: 29Washington Post: Woman, mom convicted of smuggling... (December 8, 2008)
  3. Ogren's age at time of conviction: 55Washington Post: Woman, mom convicted of smuggling... (December 8, 2008)
  4. Lawson resides in Spokane, WashingtonSpokesman Review: Three charged with smuggling... (March 8, 2008)
  5. Lawson named the monkey ApooSKY News: Sedated Monkey Smuggled On Plane (December 9, 2008)
  6. The two women were indicted, along with Lawson's boyfriend, James Edward Pratt, in March of 2008Spokesman Review: Three charged with smuggling... (March 8, 2008)
  7. Pratt plead guilty of lesser misdemeanor charges in exchange for his testimony against Lawson and OgrenSpokesman Review: 2 convicted on monkey smuggling... (December 9, 2008)
  8. Lawson and Ogren are scheduled for sentencing on March 3, 2009Washington Post: Woman, mom convicted of smuggling... (December 8, 2008)
  9. Apoo the monkey was taken to live at a primate rescue facility in OregonWashington Post: Woman, mom convicted of smuggling monkey into US (December 8, 2008)

• Proof and Denials

  The authorities were informed of the smuggled monkey on December 26, 2007, after Lawson and Ogren took Apoo shopping with them in Spokane. They told a store clerk how they had smuggled the monkey into the U.S. and the clerk then relayed their tale to authorities.Spokesman Review: 2 convicted on monkey smuggling... (December 9, 2008) Although Lawson originally denied the smuggling charges and claimed that she bought the monkey in California, officials discovered handwritten journals detailing the monkey smuggling during their search of Lawson's home.Spokesman Review: Three charged with smuggling... (March 8, 2008) KHQ.com: Mother, daughter convicted of smuggling monkey from Thailand (December 8, 2008)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Rhesus Monkey | Monkey Waiters | Debby Rose Monkey | Endangered Species Act | US Fish and Wildlife Service

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