Govind Tekale
A 75-year-old New York man’s illegal butterfly business has been grounded after a federal investigation revealed a $200,000 smuggling operation of protected species, including some of the world’s most endangered butterflies.
Charles Limmer of Commack, New York, who claimed to be a professional lepidopterist (butterfly expert), received two years of home confinement and must pay $5,500 in fines. The court ordered him to forfeit his massive collection of over 17,000 butterflies and insects, along with $30,000 in illegal profits.
The illegal wildlife trade continues to threaten protected species, where rare butterflies can fetch hundreds of dollars each. Limmer sold his specimens through popular websites like eBay, Etsy, and InsectNet, where his account “limmerleps” had completed more than 4,600 sales.
Among the trafficked species were birdwing butterflies, stunning insects with wingspans reaching 10 inches. These rainforest dwellers from Southeast Asia and Australia are particularly vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and illegal poaching.
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“I’m more of a conservationist than any employee who ever worked for Fish and Wildlife,” Limmer claimed when first contacted about the charges. However, his actions told a different story. After losing his wildlife import license in October 2022, he continued selling protected species. In one message to his partners overseas, he wrote “Screw USFWS,” showing clear disregard for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
To dodge detection, Limmer and his overseas partners labeled butterfly shipments as “decorative wall coverings” and “origami paper craft.” Last year, he listed two smuggled birdwing butterflies from the Solomon Islands for $480 the same day they arrived.
The illegal trade of protected butterflies represents a significant challenge for wildlife protection agencies. While butterflies might seem like an unusual target for smuggling, their beauty and rarity make them valuable collection items. Just last month, Limmer was caught with a shipment that included 2,400 endangered birdwing butterflies.
Past cases show this isn’t isolated. In 2016, authorities caught a California man trying to smuggle dozens of protected butterflies through Los Angeles International Airport. In 2007, a Japanese smuggler received a 21-month prison sentence for similar crimes.
The loss of these protected species affects their native habitats in the rainforests of Southeast Asia and Australia. Their decline impacts the delicate balance of these ecosystems where these butterflies naturally exist.
The case wrapped up on April 3, 2025, marking a significant case for wildlife protection agencies. The seized collection included specimens found across multiple locations – from New York to Hawaii, where authorities recovered two dried butterflies, and Miami, where 200 white witch moths were confiscated.
This prosecution required coordination between multiple agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at JFK International Airport, along with wildlife inspectors throughout the nation.
