SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – William “Bill” Saiff, III, (53), of Henderson, New York, traded on his reputation as a public television personality to break the law, admitting today in federal court to illegally guiding waterfowl hunts. Saiff pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a clear attempt to profit from cheating the system and undermining fair chase.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, detailed a pattern of deliberate deception. Saiff, the owner and operator of Bill Saiff Outdoors and Seaway Waterfowl Professionals, and formerly the host of the “Cabin Country” program, knowingly lured birds to hunting grounds using illegal baiting practices. For eighteen years, Saiff presented himself as an outdoorsman; today, he’s a convicted criminal.
According to a written plea agreement, on October 27, 2015, Saiff guided a hunting party over a pond in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, where he’d secretly installed an underwater trough filled with corn. Investigators discovered the trough the day before the hunt, but not before Saiff’s clients had already downed several protected waterfowl. A similar scheme unfolded on October 31, 2015, in Rodman, Jefferson County, where Saiff scattered approximately 50 pounds of corn along the shoreline less than ten days before the hunt. More protected birds fell before law enforcement intervened, seizing the illegal kill.
The feds aren’t letting Saiff off easy, but they’ve reached a deal. Both the government and Saiff have agreed to recommend a $5,000 fine and a period of probation. Crucially, that probation will bar Saiff from any hunting or guiding activities – excluding fishing – until January 1, 2019. He’s also agreed to donate $10,000 to wildlife charities, a paltry sum considering the damage done to the resource. Despite the plea deal, Saiff faces a potential maximum sentence of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine per count.
“We commend the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for their thorough investigation of this case, which reinforces the principle that the law applies to everyone,” stated United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian. Special Agent in Charge Honora Gordon echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to protecting waterfowl populations and ensuring fair hunting opportunities. This isn’t about punishing one man; it’s about safeguarding a resource for future generations.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry. United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks will determine Saiff’s fate at a sentencing hearing scheduled for a future date. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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