Long Island art dealer admits to trafficking rhino horns

NEW YORK – The U.S. Justice Department has announced an Asian art dealer from Long Island admitted to charges that he took part in the illegal trafficking of black rhinoceros horns.

Forty-nine-year-old Fengyi Zhou acknowledged while entering his guilty plea in federal court in Brooklyn on Tuesday that he purchased up to five uncarved horns that came from black rhinos, an endangered species.

Federal prosecutors say the Syosset man was aware that the horns he purchased were first bought in Texas and unlawfully transported to New York.

Zhou then immediately made a move to sell the horns, which he eventually did for more than $130,000 to an associate who is a Chinese national.

Defence attorney Paul Goldberger says Zhou is a legitimate businessman who just made a bad decision. He’s requesting no jail time for his client.