Gerald “Jerry” W. Johns, owner of Double XX Outfitters, a business in Pike County Illinois, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to two counts of receiving money for providing outfitting services that resulted in the illegal take and transportation of wild white-tailed deer. Both counts are misdemeanor violations of the Lacey Act, a federal wildlife protection law.
Johns, 45, of Rockport, Ill., was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. The fine will be used to fund continuing state and federal investigations of wildlife law violations.
Johns also pleaded guilty to three Illinois State wildlife law violations including providing fraudulent information for state records, accessory to unlawful hunting and unlawful possession of wild turkeys. As part of the plea agreement, Johns will also forfeit three rifles used to illegally kill wildlife and numerous illegally obtained wildlife photographs and mounts.
In November 2005, Johns allowed two non-resident clients to illegally kill white-tailed deer as part of his Double XX Outfitters business. The illegally killed deer were then transported across state lines. Johns also knowingly falsified documents and allowed his clients to illegally tag deer and illegally hunt on private property Johns did not own.
The interstate transportation of wildlife-- including hides or parts--obtained in violation of state law violates the Lacey Act. The Lacey Act is a federal wildlife protection law and each of Johns’ violations carried a possible maximum fine of $100,000 and/or one year in prison.
Johns’ guilty plea is the result of a covert investigation into illegal hunting, known as Operation Mongo, conducted by special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Central District of Illinois U.S. Attorney’s Office, represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore, negotiated the plea agreement.
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 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 547 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 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 and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
