DENVER (AP) -- A Chinese national, among 10 people charged with smuggling protected sea turtles, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Denver.

Wang Hong pleaded guilty to a felony count of smuggling turtles from China.

He was indicted with nine others in August after a multiyear investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The outcome of the other cases was not disclosed.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney General Ronald Tenpas said today's verdict was proof laws protecting turtles will be enforced.

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