Virginians Sentenced, Fined for Selling Wildlife, Human Remains

A Highland Springs, Va., man was sentenced to two years in prison, fined $17,575 and required to forfeit two vehicles, while his corporation and his son received probation and fines yesterday after pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema, U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., to charges relating to illegal sale of protected wildlife and Native American human remains, according to Tom Healy, senior agent in charge of law enforcement for the Northeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

During a two-year undercover investigation that ranged from Virginia to California, Service agents purchased and seized wildlife from the men and the corporation valued in excess of $80,000, Healy said. Mounts and parts included a white rhinocerous head, a black leopard, grizzly bears, gray wolves, black bears, bobcats, and migratory birds, all endangered, threatened or otherwise protected species.

In a parallel investigation, the National Park Service purchased Native American remains sold in violation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.

Courtney C. Smith Jr., age 69, was convicted of selling Native American remains and selling endangered or threatened wildlife. He was sentenced to 24 months in prison; $10,000 fine; $7,500 costs to the National Park Service to repatriate Native American remains; $75 in special assessments; and forfeiture of a 2000 Ford Excursion and a 1997 Chevrolet Suburban with a combined value of $66,000.

Courtney C. Smith III, age 40, was convicted of attempting to sell endangered wildlife. He was sentenced to one year probation; $3,000 fine; and a $25 special assessment.

The Virginia corporation, Courtney C. Smith Jr. Limited, trading as Great Southern Arsenal, was convicted of illegal sale of archeological resources, illegal sale of endangered or threatened wildlife; and selling Native American remains. The corporation was sentenced to two years supervised probation; $15,000 fine; $7,500 costs to the National Park Service to repatriate Native American remains; and $1,325 in special assessments.

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Division Wildlife Section; Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Henrico County Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service assisted in the investigation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

-FWS-