Lumber Liquidators Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crimes

Lumber Liquidators pleaded guilty Thursday to environmental crimes related to importing flooring manufactured in China from timber illegally logged in eastern Russia, the habitat for the world's last remaining Siberian tigers and Amur leopards.

The Toano, Virginia-based company entered a plea agreement to one felony and four misdemeanors in U.S. District Court. As part of the agreement, the company agreed to pay $13.2 million to end a federal investigation. The Justice Department said the financial penalty is the largest ever imposed for illegal timber trafficking.