ZION NATIONAL PARK
Felony Convictions For Illegal Wildflower Seed Harvesting
Ranger Anne Pestolesi came upon several large bags of illegally collected wildflower seeds along the side of the road in the Kolob Terrace area of the park last August. Over the next several weeks, Pestolesi and park staff began an investigation that led to the discovery that several hundred pounds of Palmer’s penstemon wildflower seeds had been illegally harvested and removed from the park. Special agent Matt Fisher was brought in to assist with the investigation. On September 21st, Fisher and Pestolesi travelled to the remote backcountry area where the illegal harvest had taken place. They arrested undocumented aliens Cresencio Lucena-Alvarez and Cresencio Martinez-Guzman, who were illegally camped in the backcountry and engaged in the illegal removal of the seeds. The total weight of collected seeds exceeded 900 pounds. The seed collectors intended to sell their illegal harvest to commercial seed distributers who then frequently sell their seed to federal agencies pursuing revegetation projects. On December 7th, Lucena-Alvarez and Martinez-Guzman were convicted on felony counts of 18 USC 641, theft of government property, and sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation in addition to time served. The two had been in custody since their September arrests. The court also imposed the condition that the two shall not illegally reenter the United States. Charges against additional suspects are pending. The assistance of the NPS Investigative Services Branch and the Saint George Assistant US Attorney’s Office was instrumental in the successful prosecution of the case.
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Name: Ray O’Neil, Acting Chief Ranger
