A California man, who received a federal permit to export turtles under the false claim that they had been captive-bred, has been arrested on wildlife-trafficking charges, authorities said on Friday.

Donald Do and an unidentified accomplice allegedly sought to export 292 loggerhead musk turtles to Taiwan from December 2022 to May 2024. The accomplice obtained the US Fish and Wildlife Service export license, after which, authorities say, Do purchased turtles poached from the wild in Florida and other locales. Do had also allegedly sent instructions for the animals to be shipped to San Francisco.

A Louisiana man, Albert Bazaar, whom Do allegedly tried to buy 200 turtles from, has also been taken into custody for turtle trafficking. Bazaar has been accused of poaching and selling more than 1,700 loggerhead musk turtles.

Per a federal conservation law, the Lacey Act, it is illegal to share false information about wildlife related to international or interstate commerce. The loggerhead musk turtles are classified as a protected species.

Loggerhead musk turtles are so named for their large heads. They have powerful jaws, which allow them to feed on hard-shelled prey, and can be found in US coastal waters. Their small size – about 3-5in – mean they can easily be kept in an aquarium.

Law enforcement has cracked down on turtle poachers in the south-eastern US in an operation dubbed “Southern Hot Herps”, according to the Department of Justice.

If convicted of the charge, Do faces up to five years in prison. He pleaded not guilty at a recent court hearing, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A bond hearing has been scheduled in his case for 21 May.