Caviar Fisherman Sentenced to 12 Months in Federal Prison for Lacey Act Violations

PADUCAH, KY – Daniel Allen, 44, of Brookport, IL, was sentenced today to 12 months and one day in federal prison followed by two years of post-release supervision for violating the Lacey Act.

In pleading guilty, Allen admitted that between November 6, 2018, and April 20, 2019, he illegally caught shovelnose sturgeon along the Kentucky/Illinois boarder and sold the fish roe to a caviar distributor in Tennessee. Allen caught sturgeon out of season and using illegally sized mesh nets along the Ohio River. He also caught sturgeon near the Smithland Lock and Dam in an area closed to commercial fishing.

Among other things, the Lacey Act makes it unlawful for any person to transport and sell fish that were taken in violation of any law or regulation of any state. Kentucky and Illinois both regulate fishing for sturgeon and its eggs, which are marketed as caviar. A violation of the Lacey Act constitutes a felony if the fish had a market value in excess of $350.

At sentencing, Allen agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution for the illegally taken sturgeon and eggs. 

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case with the assistance of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee prosecuted the case.

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