STOCKTON, Calif. — A Stockton beekeeper was recently indicted with conspiring to buy and sell illegally smuggled pesticides to other beekeepers across the U.S.
Federal prosecutors say 44-year-old Paulo Perez-Mendoza bought between 1,000-1,500 liters of banned pesticides for about $476,680 and then resold it to beekeepers in states like Oregon, Washington, Georgia and Florida.
Perez-Mendoza allegedly recruited other people to aid in the reported smuggling of illegal pesticides between 2019 and 2024.
He faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on conspiracy, and up to one year in prison and a $25,000 if convicted on the illegal sale of pesticides.
