MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY IN CASE INVOLVING ILLEGAL MOUNTAIN LION AND BOBCAT HUNTS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Friday, August 15, 2014
Big Game Hunting Outfitter Pleads Guilty to Felony Conspiracy Charge in Connection with Illegal Mountain Lion and Bobcat Hunting Activities

Christopher W. Loncarich, 55, of Mack, Colorado, pleaded guilty in federal court in Denver to a felony conspiracy charge stemming from his sale of outfitting services for illegal mountain lion and bobcat hunts in Colorado and Utah, the Justice Department announced.

Loncarich pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act.   The Lacey Act is a federal law that makes it illegal to knowingly transport or sell in interstate commerce any wildlife that has been taken or possessed in violation of state laws or regulations.

According to an indictment returned by the grand jury for the District of Colorado on Jan. 7, 2014, and the plea agreement, Loncarich conspired with others to provide numerous illegal hunts of mountain lions and bobcats in Colorado and Utah from 2007 to 2010.   In particular, Loncarich and his confederates trapped, shot and caged mountain lions and bobcats prior to hunts in order to provide easier chases of the cats for clients.   Loncarich also admits that he and his assistants guided several hunters that did not possess a Utah mountain lion or bobcat license on mountain lion or bobcat hunts in Utah.   Loncarich’s base of operations in Mack, Colorado, is approximately five miles from the Utah-Colorado border.   Loncarich sold mountain lion hunts for between $3,500 and $7,500 and bobcat hunts for between $700 and $1,500 and shared a portion of the proceeds from successful hunts with his assistant guides.

Three of Loncarich’s assistant guides have previously pleaded guilty to Lacey Act violations in connection with their guiding activities with Loncarich.   On July 30, 2014, Loncarich’s lead assistant guide, Nicholaus J. Rodgers, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act in connection with his work for Loncarich.

The maximum penalty for conspiring to violate the Lacey Act is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.   Under the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed to a sentencing calculation pursuant to the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines but did not agree on a term of imprisonment, an amount of fines or an amount of restitution.   A sentencing hearing for Loncarich is set for Nov. 20, 2014.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.   The case is being prosecuted by the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

BIG GAME OUTFITTER CONVICTED OF BAITING FOR ELK AND DEER WITH SALT

Photo:  Bull Elk.  Credit:  Wikimedia.
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Thursday, September 20, 2012

Colorado Big Game Outfitter Convicted of Six Lacey Act Violations

WASHINGTON – Big game hunting outfitter Dennis Eugene Rodebaugh, 72, of Meeker, Colo., was convicted by a federal jury in Denver today of six charges of violating the Lacey Act, announced the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

According to the indictment, Rodebaugh operated a Colorado big game outfitting business called "D&S Guide and Outfitter" beginning in 1988, offering multi-day elk and deer hunts to many non-resident clients in the White River National Forest for between $1,200 and $1,600. The indictment alleged that each summer between 2002 and 2007, the defendant outfitted numerous clients, on hunts in which deer and elk were shot from tree stands near which Rodebaugh placed hundreds of pounds of salt each spring and summer as bait. The placement and use of bait to aid in the taking of big game is unlawful in Colorado. The interstate sale of big game outfitting and guiding services for the unlawful taking of big game with the aid of bait constitutes a felony violation of the Lacey Act.

Each of the six felony counts on which the defendant was convicted carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine. Rodebaugh also agreed to forfeit two all terrain vehicles and a utility trailer used in the commission of the six Lacey Act crimes.

This case was investigated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney J. Ronald Sutcliffe and Trial Attorney Mark Romley, of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section of the Environment and Natural Resources Division.