Latest news with #Usifo
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Authorities move in after receiving tip about bizarre sighting in residential neighborhood: 'Valued solely for the sum of its body parts'
Big cats are majestic, but unfortunately, some people exploit their beauty. Two men in Arkansas did just that, but authorities caught them. According to ABC 7 News, Keidrick Usifo and Deon Johnson were sentenced to five years' probation and a $5,000 fine, and 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine, respectively, for violating the Big Cat Public Safety Act. ABC 7 News stated: "The Big Cat Public Safety Act makes the private ownership of big cats such as tigers or lions illegal." To own a big cat, you must register with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before receiving the animal. It's estimated that Usifo bought and transported a tiger cub from a Dallas broker around March 16-18, 2023. On April 7, 2023, someone reported a sighting of a tiger cub in a residential neighborhood. Then, on April 17, 2023, an anonymous tip was posted on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's website "about a tiger cub for sale in Conway," per ABC 7 News. Usifo was arrested on April 21 after being pulled over for a traffic violation. There was a felony state warrant out on him. Investigators could not locate the tiger cub in Usifo's home, but rooms matched the ones on his Instagram with the cub. Usifo made calls to Johnson while in custody, and it was determined that the 29-year-old knew what Usifo was doing in Dallas and fed the tiger when the 30-year-old was arrested. The Big Cat Public Safety Act is not just for the safety of big cats but also for the safety of humans. According to Lions Tigers & Bears, it's a "public safety risk" to have these animals in private homes. They can injure their owners or bystanders. They can also transmit zoonotic diseases. The animals themselves can also suffer. The Environmental Investigation Agency noted that tigers are "on the brink of extinction." Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In countries such as China, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, "the tiger has been valued solely for the sum of its body parts," the EIA explained. However, people do not rely on tiger meat for survival or need their body parts for anything. Tigers are not just pretty big cats. They also play a critical role in protecting biodiversity in Asia, supporting ecosystems and other species. One nonprofit, the Los Angeles-based Earth League International, is going undercover to investigate groups illegally trading exotic animals. Then, they send back the intel to the U.S. The EIA is also working to dismantle the illegal trade networks. The organization advocates for better legislation and protection for these beautiful cats. You can also advocate for more laws to help protect big cats. Additionally, you can donate to climate causes doing this vital work. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Wildlife refuge reveals details about rescued tiger
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. — Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge (TCWR) has revealed details about a rescued tiger, previously kept undisclosed due to a federal case. Keidrick Damond Usifo and Deon Johnson were found guilty of violating the Big Cat Public Safety Act (BCPSA). Usifo, 30, of Conway, was sentenced to five years' probation and a $5,000 fine, while Johnson, 29, of Little Rock, received 18 months' probation and a $1,000 fine for one count of misprision of a felony. According to a press release, Usifo attempted to purchase a tiger cub from an out-of-state seller. Johnson assisted in hiding the transaction. Both men pled guilty on October 22, 2024. Fred, then a tiger cub, was rescued from an illegal wildlife trade in April of 2023. Now an adult tiger, Fred has adapted to his home. He enjoys playing with enrichment toys, lounging in the sun, and exploring his habitat—behaviors that were denied to him in his previous life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Yahoo
Conway, Little Rock men sentenced for illegal tiger possession
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Two Arkansas men were sentenced to probation Thursday for illegally possessing a tiger cub under the Big Cat Public Safety Act. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas, Keidrick Damond Usifo, 30, of Conway, received five years of probation and a $5,000 fine. Deon Johnson, 29, of Little Rock, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and a $1,000 fine. Both were indicted in March 2024 after federal investigators linked them to the tiger. According to a news release, Usifo purchased the cub from a seller in Dallas, Texas, in March 2023 and brought it to his home in Conway. In April 2023, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) received multiple complaints about a tiger being seen in a residential area. Duggar lawsuit over home repairs dismissed Authorities searched Usifo's home and, although they did not find the tiger, they uncovered evidence that a cub had been there, including social media posts showing Usifo with the animal. Usifo was arrested on April 21, 2023, on an unrelated felony warrant. While in jail, he called Johnson, who had helped care for the tiger in his absence, according to the release. Johnson later denied any knowledge of the animal when questioned by authorities. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, passed in December 2022, bans private ownership of big cats and prohibits public contact with them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
