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Florida Man Arrested for Selling Rare Sea Turtle Shell
13 Jul
Summary
- Man listed endangered Atlantic hawksbill turtle shell for $2,700.
- Selling marine turtle parts is a third-degree felony in Florida.
- A biologist confirmed the shell was from an endangered hawksbill.
A Lake Worth Beach man was arrested on July 6, 2026, for attempting to sell body parts from an endangered species. Addison Mullen, 63, listed a "rare turtle shell" on Facebook Marketplace with an asking price of $2,700. The shell was identified as belonging to an endangered Atlantic hawksbill sea turtle, which is protected under Florida law.
In Florida, it is a third-degree felony to illegally take, sell, or molest marine turtles or their parts. An investigation began when a police officer saw Mullen's Facebook listing and contacted wildlife authorities. Officers later seized the shell from Mullen's home after obtaining a search warrant, but he could not provide any documentation for its ownership.
The biologist confirmed the shell was from an Atlantic hawksbill, a species hunted for its shells, which are used in jewelry and are banned from international trade. Nesting of hawksbills in the continental U.S. is rare, primarily occurring on Florida's southeast coast and the Florida Keys. Mullen has been released on $5,000 bail and has a hearing scheduled for August 20, 2026. A third-degree felony conviction can result in up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
