Two indicted in smuggling case

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A federal grand jury has indicted two men on charges of conspiring to smuggle body parts of protected wildlife and endangered species into the United States.

Denis M. "Dusty" Gruver of Honolulu and his brother, Jackson Muldoon of McMinneville, Ore., were charged last week with one count of conspiracy in the smuggling of the body parts.

Gruver also was charged with seven counts of smuggling protected wildlife and three counts of selling endangered species illegally imported into this country, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

A third man, Robert Weisblut of Maryland, was indicted Sept. 19 on four counts of violating the Endangered Species Act in connection with the activities of Gruver and Muldoon.

If convicted, each man faces up to five years in prison on each count and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to the indictment, Gruver, 60, a tribal artifacts dealer, and Muldoon, 58, smuggled parts of orangutans, helmeted hornbills, leopards and other wildlife from Australia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Nepal and Thailand from 1998 to July 2003.

The indictment also accuses Gruver of advertising the animal parts for sale on the Internet, and that he sold hornbill ivory to a law-enforcement agent in December 1999.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.