MIAMI (AP) — Federal authorities say a Miami man faces up to 20 years in prison for trying to smuggle birds from Cuba into the United States in his pants.

Alberto Diaz Gonzalez pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to import undeclared wildlife from the Caribbean island. The U.S. Attorney’s office says Diaz will be sentenced in February.

A message left Sunday for Diaz’s federal public defender was not immediately returned.

Diaz returned Oct. 20 to Miami from Havana. According to court documents, he told U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at Miami’s airport that he was not carrying any wildlife.

Authorities say that when officers searched Diaz, they found 16 Cuban bullfinches hidden in his pants. Diaz then told the officers he got the birds in Cuba and planned to sell them here.

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