Maryland Man Sentenced on Lacey Act Violations

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Maryland man charged with Taking Wildlife Without Proper Licenses was sentenced on November 5, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann. Mark Belote, age 48, was sentenced to 3 years of probation, $2,700 restitution to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, $250 restitution to the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Department, and a $25 special assessment.

Belote was indicted for Lacey Act violations by a federal grand jury in April 2012. He pled guilty to a Superseding Information in August 2012. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in Marshall County in the Fall of 2008 when Belote knowingly hunted and guided other hunters for Windy Hills Outfitters without the proper waterfowl licenses.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson prosecuted the case.