Comanche County Elk Trafficking Conviction Upheld

On January 23, 2001, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals at Denver, Colorado, upheld the prior felony conviction of John F. Lewis of Lawton, Oklahoma. In May, 1999, Lewis was convicted of violation of the federal Lacey Act following a jury trial in U.S. District Court at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. U.S. District Judge Robin Cauthron subsequently sentenced Lewis to a term of imprisonment of twelve months and one day as well as a fine of $30,000 and a two year period of supervised release upon release from prison.

The Lacey Act prohibits the interstate sale of wildlife taken in violation of state law. Lewis