Who is Lee Moore from The Orchid Thief and what is their importance?

Lee Moore is a plant smuggler according to the US Government and CITES. Moore is close to sixty and tells fantastic stories about his smuggling days. He had once been a top dealer in pre-Columbian art, but had stopped after the U.S. Customs won a number of disputes against him. Now, he is back in the plant world and knows nearly everyone in it.