Mark Evan Buchanan, Attempting to Transport Unlawfully Obtained Plants, Virginia 2024

ABINGDON, VA – Mark Evan Buchanan, 47, of Wise, Virginia, learned yesterday that ripping up federally protected plants comes with a hefty price. Buchanan pled guilty in United States District Court to one count of attempting to transport, sell, receive or acquire plants in interstate commerce knowing that said plants were taken in an unlawful manner – in this case, 246 wild Ginseng roots.

The case, brought by Acting United States Attorney Rick A. Mountcastle’s office, details Buchanan’s brazen disregard for federal law. Court evidence, presented by Special Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Carnell, revealed Buchanan knowingly possessed the Ginseng roots, all illegally excavated from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. It’s a simple equation: taking wild Ginseng from a national forest is illegal, possessing it is illegal, and attempting to profit from it is a federal offense.

This isn’t some backwoods hobby gone wrong. Ginseng, a highly sought-after herb in traditional medicine, fetches a steep price on the black market. The U.S. Forest Service investigation suggests Buchanan intended to capitalize on the plant’s value, ignoring the ecological damage caused by unsustainable harvesting. The removal of these roots disrupts the forest ecosystem and threatens the plant’s long-term survival.

Buchanan’s defense, if any, wasn’t enough to sway the court. He admitted to the unlawful possession and intent to sell, effectively ending any chance of a prolonged legal battle. The fact that he possessed 246 roots speaks to a systematic and deliberate effort to exploit a protected resource, not a casual act of foraging.

The U.S. Forest Service, the agency responsible for safeguarding these lands, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Carnell skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the guilty plea. This conviction sends a clear message: federal authorities are serious about protecting natural resources, even in the remote corners of Virginia.

Buchanan is scheduled to be sentenced on May 25 at 10:30 a.m. While the exact penalties remain to be determined, expect fines and potentially jail time for this calculated act of environmental and economic crime. The Grimy Times will be there to report the final outcome. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly ‘minor’ environmental offenses can carry significant federal consequences.

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