A Southern California man pleaded guilty Thursday to federal criminal charges of smuggling more than 1,700 wild animals to the U.S. and trafficking them from 2016 to February 2022.

Jose Manuel Perez, 30, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty to two counts of smuggling and a charge of wildlife trafficking in the Central District of California. His most recent animal smuggling scheme included 60 reptiles that were found in bags in his clothing while he crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, where he was arrested. Three of the reptiles were reported to have died in the process.

Other smuggled animals included "Yucatan box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles and Mexican beaded lizards," which had a market value of about $739,000. Perez imported them into the U.S. from Mexico and Hong Kong, according to the Justice Department.

"The Department of Justice is committed to pursuing criminal sanctions against those who violate our federal wildlife trafficking laws," the department said in a 2018 statement about wildlife trafficking.

"Wildlife trafficking threatens security, hinders economic development, and undermines the rule of law. The illicit trade in wildlife is decimating many species worldwide and threatens iconic species," the Justice Department said.

It is illegal to import animals without declaring them to U.S. customs officials or obtaining the proper permits.

Perez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each smuggling count. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1.