Man Indicted for Importing Protected Parakeets in his Pants

SAN DIEGO -Jesse Agus Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally importing two sedated orange-fronted parakeets in his pants.

Martinez, a U.S. citizen residing in Tijuana, attempted to cross the border at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on October 23, 2025, at approximately 12:50 p.m. Martinez was diverted to secondary inspection after a Customs and Border Protection officer noticed a bulge in Martinez's groin area. Customs and Border Protection records indicated that Martinez had previously smuggled birds into the United States.

Martinez claimed several times that the bulge was his "pirrin," a Spanish word for penis. When a CBP officer further inspected Martinez, the officer found two brown sacks, each containing one orange-fronted parakeet, in Martinez's underwear. The birds were apparently unconscious but breathing and heavily sedated.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents and inspectors responded to the scene. A wildlife inspector identified the birds as protected juvenile orange-fronted parakeets (Eupsittula canicularis).

The birds were initially cared for by Veterinary Services at the southern border, before being transferred to a Department of Agriculture Animal Import Center for quarantine. The birds are now reported to be in stable condition.

Orange Fronted Parakeets are native to Western Mexico and Costa Rica. The Orange Fronted Parakeet is protected and has been listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 2005. Martinez's concealment of the parakeets would have resulted in their entering the United States without any quarantine period or process.

To import many types of wildlife, the wildlife must be subject to quarantine before it can be introduced into the United States. Many animals have diseases that can be transferred to humans (zoonotic diseases) or other animals that can have disastrous health effects to human or animal populations. For example, birds can carry and spread Avian influenza (bird flu), psittacosis, and histoplasmos. Bird flu is highly contagious and can cause flu like symptoms, respiratory illness, pneumonia and death in humans and other birds including the United States poultry farms. There are many other diseases that can be transmitted from different animals and have disastrous effects, that is why it is necessary to quarantine animals entering the United States to limit and safeguard against this potential disease transmission.

This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Rookard.

DEFENDANT Case Number 25MJ6054-BLM

Jesse Agus Martinez Age: 35

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Importation Contrary to Law - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 545

Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine

INVESTIGATING AGENCY

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.