Jon Rioux, Wildlife Trafficking, Maine 2022

PORTLAND, Maine — A Massachusetts man, Jon Rioux, 36, of Attleboro, has been sentenced for his role in a wildlife trafficking scheme that saw him illegally transport wild snowshoe hares from Maine to Massachusetts.

The crimes, which were uncovered in January 2021, involved Rioux soliciting Maine residents to live trap snowshoe hares and then purchasing them in the state before transporting them to Massachusetts for use in beagle training and field trials. This was not an isolated incident, as Rioux was caught red-handed on his fifth purchase on March 16, 2022, at the Kennebunk service plaza on the Maine Turnpike by Maine Game Wardens and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents.

According to court records, Rioux's actions not only exploited public resources but also threatened wild populations by creating the potential for disease transmission.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Rioux to one year of probation and imposed a fine of $10,000. Additionally, Rioux was ordered to pay $1,843 in restitution to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Rioux's sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of wildlife trafficking. As Assistant Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, Edward Grace, noted, 'Illegally trafficking wildlife across state lines not only exploits public resources it threatens wild populations by creating the potential for disease transmission.'

The Maine Warden Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case with assistance from the Massachusetts Environmental Police. The conviction is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in protecting wildlife resources on behalf of the American public.

Rioux's case highlights the importance of adhering to laws and regulations governing wildlife trafficking. His sentencing serves as a warning to anyone considering similar actions, with severe consequences awaiting those who choose to exploit public resources and threaten wild populations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/massachusetts-man-sentenced-illegal-wildlife-trafficking-fined-10000