Orange County Man Who Attempted to Smuggle ‘Good Luck’ Songbirds Dodges Prison

LOS ANGELES—An Orange County man was sentenced April 12 to three years probation and time already served for attempting to run endangered “good luck” songbirds into Los Angeles from Vietnam. Quang Truong, 54, of Westminster, pleaded guilty in 2017 to a federal conspiracy charge after his arrest at Los Angeles International Airport. When LAX screeners checked Mr. Truong’s luggage following the 8,000-mile journey, they found more than two dozen birds in suitcases rigged to include hidden cages. The tiny Chinese hwamei songbirds—which can cost a few dollars apiece in Southeast Asia—fetch up to $1,000 when sold illegally at certain Chinese markets in Southern California and are thought to bring good luck....