Woman charged in allegedly trying to sell 6 tigers

Associated Press

McALLEN, Texas -- An Arkansas woman has been charged as McAllen police and federal agents investigate an alleged attempt to sell six endangered tiger cubs.

An officer at the Hidalgo County Detention Center said early Tuesday that 49-year-old Michelle Ashton of Little Rock had been released on $5,000 bond.

Ashton was charged with misdemeanor interference with public duties, after she allegedly became disruptive with police Sunday.

The jail had no information on an attorney for Ashton, said a detention officer, who declined to provide his name to The Associated Press.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Alejandro Rodriguez says it appears the cubs were bound for Mexico when they were seized from a McAllen parking lot.

The cubs, in good health, were taken to the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville.