A Garden Grove man was found guilty Thursday of smuggling 27 Asian songbirds into Los Angeles International Airport last year.

Can Thanh Nguyen, 63, is guilty of importing and bringing the birds, 11 of which were found in his suitcase, into the country, a Justice Department statement said. Nguyen, who has traveled abroad extensively, stated at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection kiosk after landing April 20 that he was not carrying any animals or animal and wildlife products.

In secondary screening, border officials found the birds hidden in cages and wrapped in foil or newspaper under a layer of foil or clothes in his suitcase. Two of the birds were dead and seven died shortly after.

Eleven birds were identified as Chinese hwamei, which are a protected class under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna treaty.

In 2010, a Garden Grove man pleaded guilty to smuggling 14 live Asian songbirds into the country.

Sony Dong traveled to Vietnam in 2009 and landed at LAX with the birds hidden beneath his pants and strapped to his legs. Officials found bird feathers peeking out from his pants and droppings on his socks. He admitted to smuggling birds on several occasions and was sentenced to four months in federal prison and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution to authorities who were caring for the birds.

Nguyen faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced June 27.

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