Man pleads guilty in songbird-smuggling case

A Garden Grove man pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy for coordinating the smuggling of 14 live birds into the United States by strapping them to another man's legs during an international flight, prosecutors said.

Duc Le, 34, admitted that he conspired to bring Asian song birds in to the United States in a scheme that began on an unknown date and lasted until April 2009, according to his plea agreement.

Le entered his plea in federal court in Los Angeles. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for June 23, according to U.S. Attorney's spokesman Thom Mrozek.



Another Garden Grove man, Sony Dong, 46, has pleaded guilty to smuggling, and faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison at his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 26.

Dong admitted to travelling to Vietnam to purchase the birds on several instances, including on April 13, 2009, when he flew from Vietnam to Los Angeles International Airport with 14 live birds hidden beneath his pants and strapped to his legs, according to Dong's plea agreement.

Dong was searched after the plane landed. Authorities said Dong had bird feathers and droppings on his socks, and birds' tail feathers peeking out from his pants.