Investigated by a trio of state and federal agencies including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
Christopher Jones, 42, of Hernando, and Heath Harris, 42, of Senatobia, were caught in December 2019 after shooting a deer outside of Memphis without a license and unlawfully transporting it into the state of Mississippi.
In addition to the brazen disregard for wildlife laws in Tennessee, the men were also in direct violation of the Lacey Act which was put in place to combat the illegal trafficking of wildlife fish and plants.
The pair appeared in court last month for their sentencing. Each defendant was ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $1,000, restitution to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency in the amount of $9,185 and fines payable to the Lacey Act Rewards Account in the amount of $4,875. In addition to the above, the antlers from the animal were forfeited to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Both Jones and Harris have been placed on probation for a period of one year, during which time they will be prohibited from hunting anywhere in the world as a condition of their probation.
While state wildlife violations are treated in a very serious manner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will get involved with any and all Lacey Act violations. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge Stephen Clark wasted no time echoing this sentiment in a statement.
“The Office of Law Enforcement takes violations of the Lacey Act seriously. This multi-year investigation involving the two defendants responsible for the unlawful harvest and subsequent transportation in interstate commerce of a white-tailed deer from Tennessee to Mississippi is no exception. We will continue to work closely with our state partners to conduct these important joint investigations.”
