Federal Judge David S. Morales sentenced Jennifer Mayo to two years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, on 23/7. During the trial, the court heard additional evidence concerning the severe risk of disease transmission from the poultry, the discovery of numerous dead chickens at the defendant's home, and her consistent false statements to authorities. The judge emphasized that Mayo's actions were extremely serious and posed a danger to numerous livestock flocks.
The investigation began in 2023, conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), after authorities discovered Facebook messages indicating Mayo's discussions about traveling to Southeast Asia to collect Dong Tao chicken eggs.
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A Dong Tao chicken in Dong Tao village, Hung Yen province, January 2024. Photo: Reuters |
Mayo concealed approximately 60 Dong Tao chicken eggs with embryos on her person and in her luggage to bring into the US, intending to hatch them for sale as breeding stock, for eggs, and for meat. When questioned by authorities, Mayo falsely claimed that all hatched chickens had died.
Authorities later executed a search warrant at Mayo's home and discovered five chickens alive but diseased, along with numerous other poultry individuals that were either dead or dying. These five chickens were the only surviving Dong Tao individuals from the initial batch of eggs. Due to the risk of disease spreading to other poultry flocks, veterinarians determined the chickens could not be moved from the site and proceeded with their destruction.
Defendant Jennifer Mayo pleaded guilty on 30/7/2025, admitting that she knew bringing the eggs into the US was illegal. She is currently out on bail and will report to a federal correctional facility in the near future.
Dong Tao chickens are a rare breed originating from Vietnam. According to US federal law, importing poultry requires meeting strict conditions.
Hoang Lan (According to Kristv, Kiiitv)
