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Chaunceys’ Wildlife Scam Exposed
A South Dakota couple’s commercial hunting operation turned into a wildlife scam, yielding over $235,000 in penalties. John and Kathryn Chauncey pleaded guilty to various wildlife violations at their Rock Creek Ranch in Todd County, South Dakota, between 2008-2012.
According to the investigation conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Chaunceys hosted paying hunting clients from Michigan, Texas, and New Jersey for guided deer and pheasant hunts. However, they unlawfully killed and possessed a minimum of 56 deer, hawks, owls, badgers, and turkeys, with the value of the unlawfully killed wildlife documented to be over $70,000.
John Chauncey was sentenced to two months in custody and ordered to pay $92,285. He pleaded guilty in Federal Court to a felony charge of Conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and multiple counts of Unlawful Possession of wildlife in State Court.
Kathryn Chauncey was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay $10,500. She pleaded guilty in Federal Court to violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and unlawfully transferring a hunting license in State Court.
Sixteen other defendants also pled guilty to State and Federal wildlife violations as a result of the investigation and were sentenced to fines ranging from $500 to more than $26,000 per person. Collectively, the defendants in this case had their hunting privileges revoked for 45 years and were additionally sentenced to 19 years of probation.
U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson and South Dakota Attorney General Marty J. Jackley commended the investigation, stating that they will continue to bring to justice those who flaunt South Dakota’s wildlife laws. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges and Special Assistant Attorney General Paul Bachand prosecuted the case.
According to Jeff Vonk, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, ‘This is one of the largest wildlife cases in South Dakota history. It is important to recognize the efforts of the state and federal officers involved in this investigation.’
Assistant Director for Law Enforcement of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, William C. Woody, stated, ‘The Rock Creek Ranch investigation exposed the large-scale illegal commercial exploitation of South Dakota wildlife resources. This case shows the importance of Federal and State officers working together to protect our resident wildlife species.’
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Wildlife Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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