Animal Planet host charged with violating Endangered Species Act

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Animal Planet host Donald Schultz was charged with violating the Endangered Species Act for allegedly trying to sell two lizards, U.S. officials said.

The "Wild Recon" host allegedly attempted to sell the two Iranian dessert monitor lizards to an undercover U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent in 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Special Agent Lisa C. Nichols said Shultz's employee, Michael Clarkson, gave her a list of lizards Shultz was trying to sell on Facebook, including the lizards for $3,000.

They negotiated the price and the lizards were sent to another undercover agent by Delta Air Cargo in Buffalo, N.Y., the criminal complaint filed this week in Los Angeles said.

If convicted of the misdemeanor, Shultz, 36, faces one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.