A Mississauga man is facing 10 years in U.S. prison after allegedly trying to ship live snakes to China through the mail.

Chaoyi Le, 28, was taken into custody on Aug. 11 in Los Angeles after getting off a flight from Shanghai, according to media reports.

Acting U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced that Le was arrested and charged with attempt to export and send seven live ball pythons and three live albino western hog-nosed snakes, contrary to U.S. laws and regulations. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors allege Le previously was found with 55 live reptiles in Chicago during a trip from Pearson International Airport to China in February 2014. He was charged and paid a $5,000 fine, according to reports.

Officials say many of the reptiles found are afforded protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). They included, according to reports, 19 ball pythons, eight surinam horned frogs, two tiger leg tree frogs, four red eye tree frogs, five crested geckos, four giant day geckos, a fisher chameleon, and 10 Jackson’s chameleons.

In April 2014, authorities allege Le was stopped while entering Canada from the U.S. and was found to have three albino Western hog-nosed snakes hidden in his socks that, authorities say, he was planning to mail to China.

The accused failed to appear in court later that year but was arrested this past Friday.

Le made a brief appearance in a California courtroom after being arrested Friday. He will be in a Buffalo courtroom at a later date.