Man pleads guilty in Web snake case sales case

A Las Vegas man who possessed poisonous snakes at his home pleaded guilty Wednesday to trying to sell the snakes over the Internet, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Cody Brett Bartolini, 21, pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of attempted unlawful sale of wildlife. He is to be sentenced April 22.

Officials said Bartolini violated federal wildlife trade laws. Selling non-indiginous animals across state lines also violates state law.

U.S. Attorney for Nevada Gregory Brower said the plea is important because the public needs to be aware that buying exotic animals over the Internet can be dangerous and, in some instances, animals are housed in poor conditions.

According to prosecutors, Bartolini in 2005 began placing advertisements on venomousreptiles.org, a Web site for reptile enthusiasts. From his home, Bartolini offered to trade and sell the snakes. They included green mambas, forest cobras, blacksnake spitting cobras and Great Basin rattlesnakes.

Fish and Wildlife agents searched Bartolini's home on March 9, 2007, and seized 48 snakes. Their value was placed at almost $11,000.