Cody Morganthaler, Airborne Hunting Act Violation, Texas 2018

Four men have been sentenced after their involvement in illegal sport hunting from a helicopter in violation of the federal Airborne Hunting Act.

LAREDO, Texas – On September and October of 2018, Cody Morganthaler, 36, of Oklahoma, pleaded guilty along with Edelmiro Martinez, 33, Eduardo Lopez, 39, and Inocente Sanchez, 56, all of Laredo.

The defendants were charged with violating the federal Airborne Hunting Act, which prohibits the use of an aircraft to shoot for the purpose of capturing or killing an animal for sport or trophy-hunting.

According to the investigation, Morganthaler booked a hunt at the Laredo Hunting Resort in Laredo, which Martinez owned. Lopez organized the hunt. A total of $12,000 was paid on Morganthaler’s behalf to hunt four exotic animals - an addax, a mouflon, an aoudad and a blackbuck antelope.

On October 14, 2017, Morganthaler was able to locate, shoot and kill the addax and mouflon from the ground. Due to a time shortage, Lopez suggested Morganthaler shoot the remaining two animals from a helicopter. Morganthaler and Martinez agreed.

The following day, Sanchez piloted his helicopter with Morganthaler and Lopez as passengers. Morganthaler then used a rifle to locate, shoot and kill the aoudad and blackbuck antelope from within the helicopter for the purpose of trophy-hunting.

Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Morganthaler, Martinez, and Lopez to the maximum allowed fine of $5,000, all of whom must also serve one year of probation. Sanchez was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine and must also serve the year of probation. While on probation, all of the men will not be allowed to possess firearms for personal sporting purposes.

“This case is an excellent example of the cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Game Wardens of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” said Phillip Land, Special Agent in Charge of FWS-Office of Law Enforcement - Southwest Region.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/four-men-fined-after-illegally-sport-hunting-helicopter