International Wildlife Investigation Concludes In The United States With Convictions Of Two Canadian Residents Of Lacey Act Violations

Juneau, Alaska –U.S. Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced today that a joint United States-Canadian wildlife investigation has concluded in the United States after the convictions of two Canadian hunters for violations of the Lacey act for the illegal take and export of wildlife. 

Kelly D. Murray, 51, and Jason J. Clemett, 42, were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy M. Burgess to probation and to pay fines of $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack S. Schmidt, who handled the sentencing hearings, the violations arose around guided hunts that occurred between May 2010 and October 2011 in the Haines, Alaska area.  The charges against Murray resulted from an illegal brown bear hunt that occurred in May 2011.  Murray had assisted in that illegal harvest by skinning an illegally killed bear.  The charges against Clemett resulted from an illegal hunt of a mountain goat that occurred in October 2011, led by the same guide.  The hunter failed to salvage all of the meat from his mountain goat and falsified the underlying hunt records required by Alaska State law.  The hunter gave the illegally taken mountain goat to his friend Clemett who failed to declare the export of the goat prior to taking the mountain goat back to Canada in his private jet.  The mountain goat was transported to Canada and delivered to the hunter.

The convictions are a result of a joint United States-Canadian investigation involving prosecutions in Alberta, and Yukon Territory Canada, with violations under Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA). 

Ms. Loeffler commends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Environment Canada, Yukon Conservation Officer Service, Alberta Fish and Game, Parks Canada, British Columbia Conservation Officer Service, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for the international cooperation extended in the investigation of these cases.