Michael Plank Strapped 15 Live Lizards To His Chest, Arrested At Airport: Authorities Say

LOS ANGELES — Federal officials say they arrested a man who strapped 15 live lizards to his chest to get through customs at Los Angeles International Airport.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday that 40-year-old Michael Plank of Lomita, Calif., was returning from Australia when U.S. Customs agents found two geckos, two monitor lizards and 11 skinks – another type of lizard – fastened to his body Tuesday.

Plank has been released on $10,000 bond and will be arraigned in federal court on Dec. 21.

Authorities say the lizards' value totals more than $8,500. All Australian reptiles are strictly regulated and Plank did not have a permit for them.

Comments

[justins79]

06:38 PM on 11/21/2009

How else are Republican­s supposed to fly?

[Pennsanic]

06:36 PM on 11/21/2009

Was one of them Liz(ard) Cheney?

[Lane4411]

05:31 PM on 11/21/2009

Damm you Glenn Beck anything for publicity!­!

Sarah Palin will be furious

[malzor]

04:17 PM on 11/21/2009

(giant gila monster talking MST3K style) Hi there! How's it going!

[JimBozo]

04:04 PM on 11/21/2009

What I don't understand is why he was smuggling skinks. They're common as dirt in Louisiana. Judging by the squeeky racket they produce, my brother must have hundreds of them living behind his exterior shutters.

[BlueZoo]

04:03 PM on 11/21/2009

It was the Geico Gecko who is at fault! He wanted to retire and had these lizards shipped in. Now, he won't be able to retire...u­nfortunate­ly!

[hottingers]

03:37 PM on 11/21/2009

I go through cutoms with a live lizard strapped to my leg all the time.

[ResistanceisFutile]

02:32 PM on 11/21/2009

For animal abuse he should be executed.

[nootrope]

02:26 PM on 11/21/2009

Who let that geiko lizard in? That's who we need to prosecute.

[wadenelson1]

03:16 PM on 11/21/2009

3 minutes on each side on the grille, on a skewer, and maybe a chutney dipping sauce.

[ChangeurMind]

01:55 PM on 11/21/2009

Just reported: It wasn't custom agents who initially found the lizard's. It was TMZ who mistakenly took one for Jessica Simpson.

[socialtalker]

03:33 PM on 11/21/2009

huh? not funny, too much of a stretch.

[AgentMacGyver]

01:05 PM on 11/21/2009

What's with all the lame jokes?

[GetoffMylawn]

01:47 PM on 11/21/2009

I agree, come on kids, better jokes.

[Schvenzlerman]

01:04 PM on 11/21/2009

It would be very confusing if he had to drain his lizard.

[incognito-ergo-sum]

12:53 PM on 11/21/2009

Louie, the Budweiser lizard, was behind this. He lost some serious money on this deal now. Those were made lizards, Capos of their territory coming for a meeting.

[beyondliberal]

12:41 PM on 11/21/2009

So WTF happened to the lizards? More incomplete reporting from some wire service or the LAT.

[revko]

12:12 PM on 11/21/2009

Heard there was a run away balloon with possibly 15 lizards in it.